A bacterial symbiont is converted from an inedible producer of beneficial molecules into food by a single mutation in the gacA gene.
Abstract
Stable multipartite mutualistic associations require that all partners benefit. We show that a single mutational step is sufficient to turn a symbiotic bacterium from an inedible but host-beneficial secondary metabolite producer into a host food source. The bacteria's host is a
Involved units
Leibniz-HKI-Authors
Identifier
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1308199110
PMID: 23898207