2008/06/06 by Jan‐Willem Veening, Wiep Klaas Smits, Oscar P. Kuipers · 1,075 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Gene Regulatory Network Analysis #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics #Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks #Epigenetics #Bistability #Biology #Phenotype #Inheritance (genetic algorithm) #Homogeneous #Genetics #Gene #Gene regulatory network #Computational biology #Gene expression #Physics #Statistical physics
paper · open access · doi:10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.163002
published in Annual Review of Microbiology 62(1), 193-210 (Annual Reviews)
openalex publication_date 2008/06/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
Clonal populations of microbial cells often show a high degree of phenotypic variability under homogeneous conditions. Stochastic fluctuations in the cellular components that determine cellular states can cause two distinct subpopulations, a property called bistability. Phenotypic heterogeneity can be readily obtained by interlinking multiple gene regulatory pathways, effectively resulting in a genetic logic-AND gate. Although switching between states can occur within the cells' lifetime, cells can also pass their cellular state over to the next generation by a mechanism known as epigenetic inheritance and thus perpetuate the phenotypic state. Importantly, heterogeneous populations can demonstrate increased fitness compared with homogeneous populations. This suggests that microbial cells employ bet-hedging strategies to maximize survival. Here, we discuss the possible roles of interlinked bistable networks, epigenetic inheritance, and bet-hedging in bacteria.