Global change in Escherichia coli gene expression in initial stage of symbiosis with Dictyostelium cells

Genome-wide gene expression profiling was performed to investigate the early formation of symbiosis using an artificial symbiosis of Escherichia coli and Dictyostelium discoideum. We have previously reported that when these two species were allowed to grow on minimal agar plates, they achieved a stable state of coexistence, in which the emerging E. coli colonies housing Dictyostelium cells were of a mucoidal nature that was not observed originally. We used this microbiological system as a model to study the initial stages of the development of the symbiotic relationship. The E. coli gene expression profiles of symbiotic cells and non-symbiotic cells captured using GeneChip technology were compared. It was clearly shown that the gene expression profile was substantially altered in E. coli cells undergoing symbiotic transition. The genes responsible for central energy metabolism as well as those responsible for translation apparatus were down-regulated in symbiotic E. coli. The transcriptional patterns of genes coding for the E. coli cell surface structure were drastically altered, and this alteration may determine the mucoidal nature and unique structure of coexisting colonies. General stress inducible genes were expressed at low levels in symbiotic E. coli. These observed changes in the transcription profile indicate that the central metabolism of symbiotic E. coli is attenuated as a whole, and the cells are probably under less stress because of the benefits brought by coexistence with the symbiotic counterpart Dictyostelium.