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A chunky metabolism
May 30, 2008SFI researcher figures out factors that make bacteria more modular
Many bacteria break their metabolic processes into chunks. That may be logically tidy, but it's often metabolically inefficient. Researchers have now figured out the factors that tend to make bacteria more modular.
Elhanan Borenstein of the Santa Fe Institute and Stanford University, together with Anat Kreimer, Uri Gophna, and Eytan Ruppin of Tel Aviv University, constructed the metabolic networks of many species of bacteria and measured how much those networks broke into pieces, or modules. Then they looked for factors that correlate.
They found that large networks involving many different enzymes tended to be more modular. Also, bacteria that tend to live in many different environments tend to be more modular. This makes sense, Borenstein says. "If your environment is always the same, then you just do whatever you need to do in the most optimal way. If the environment is constantly changing, you might develop one set of processes to cope with one set of environments and another to cope with another."
Many bacteria transfer genes among themselves, instead of simply handing them from ancestor to descendent. Bacteria that do more of this also tend to be more modular. "If you are going to give away and get parts of different networks, it makes sense for your network to be modular," Borenstein says. That way, the transfers are more likely to be useful. In this case, the greater rate of transfer could easily be both cause and effect of modularity, Borenstein points out.
Finally, the researchers found that modularity tends to decrease over generations. "This is probably because bacteria get more specialized as they evolve," Borenstein says.
Santa Fe Institute
They found that large networks involving many different enzymes tended to be more modular. Also, bacteria that tend to live in many different environments tend to be more modular. This makes sense, Borenstein says. "If your environment is always the same, then you just do whatever you need to do in the most optimal way. If the environment is constantly changing, you might develop one set of processes to cope with one set of environments and another to cope with another."
Many bacteria transfer genes among themselves, instead of simply handing them from ancestor to descendent. Bacteria that do more of this also tend to be more modular. "If you are going to give away and get parts of different networks, it makes sense for your network to be modular," Borenstein says. That way, the transfers are more likely to be useful. In this case, the greater rate of transfer could easily be both cause and effect of modularity, Borenstein points out.
Finally, the researchers found that modularity tends to decrease over generations. "This is probably because bacteria get more specialized as they evolve," Borenstein says.
Santa Fe Institute
Metabolism Current Events and Metabolism News RSSBlood test identifies women at risk from Alzheimer's
Middle-aged women with high levels of a specific amino acid in their blood are twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimer's many years later, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Autism Consortium symposium draws record number of researchers, advocates, parents for autism update
The Autism Consortium, an innovative collaboration of researchers, clinicians, funders and families dedicated to catalyzing research and enhancing clinical care for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), held its fourth annual symposium on October 28th, 2009, at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Postmenopausal women with higher testosterone levels
Postmenopausal women who have higher testosterone levels may be at greater risk of heart disease, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome compared to women with lower testosterone levels.
New scientific study indicates that eating quickly is associated with overeating
According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), eating a meal quickly, as compared to slowly, curtails the release of hormones in the gut that induce feelings of being full.
Hydrogen Peroxide's Link to Living Cells
If a circadian rhythm is like an orchestra - the united expression of the rhythms of millions of cells - a common chemical may serve as the conductor, or at least as the baton.
Study: Lap band surgery effective for morbidly obese children
A surgeon at Children's National Medical Center and his colleagues from New York University have found laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap band) to improve the health of morbidly obese adolescents.
Reduction in glycotoxins from heat-processing of foods reduces risk of chronic disease
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine report that cutting back on the consumption of processed and fried foods, which are high in toxins called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), can reduce inflammation and actually help restore the body's natural defenses regardless of age or health status.
New therapy gives hope for very severe depression
Thanks to a new method there is a reason for hope for patients with very severe depression. Physicians at the University Clinics of Bonn and Cologne have treated ten patients with deep brain stimulation.
A decade later, lifestyle changes or metformin still lower type 2 diabetes risk
Intensive lifestyle changes aimed at modest weight loss reduced the rate of developing type 2 diabetes by 34 percent compared with placebo in people at high risk for the disease, researchers conclude based on 10 years of data.
URI nutritionist finds chewing gum can reduce calorie intake, increase energy expenditure
A nutrition professor at the University of Rhode Island studying the effects of chewing sugar-free gum on weight management has found that it can help to reduce calorie intake and increase energy expenditure.
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