GEE Seminar - Dr Sunil Laxman, inStem, Bangalore

Academic Host: Wenying Shou
Abstract: How genetically identical cells growing in the same environment can adopt phenotypically different states remains an outstanding question. It is clear that fluctuating nutrients and ‘low resources’ drives phenotypic heterogeneity. Using budding yeasts, we are trying to understand organizational frameworks of how metabolism enables division of labor and cooperation in groups of cells. In the first part of my talk, I will suggest simple physico-chemical rules that determine how cells can self-organize into assemblies in complimentary, metabolically specialized states. This is in part enabled by metabolically plastic molecules, which are used for different ends by specialized cells. Through this, groups of cells can exhibit true division of labor that benefits the entire cell collective. In the last part of my talk, I will present genome-scale metabolic organizations that reveal compelling biochemical reasons for the specialization of groups of cells. This metabolic organization and flow allows mutually incompatible reactions to simultaneously function via spatial separation. Therefore, groups of cells can effectively produce resources required by other groups of cells. By functioning as effective economies, cell collectives can maximize their growth and survival. I will finally speculate on possible evolutionary implications of metabolic specializations and division of labor in clonal microbial communities, as well as biochemical requirements for facultative ‘multicellularity’.