The Entropic Switch: How Bacteria Sense Their World
A new study in the Journal of Molecular Biology reveals the fundamental mechanism by which bacterial chemoreceptors transmit signals. The research demonstrates that these receptors function as “coupled entropic switches.” Rather than relying on large structural changes, signal transduction is driven by shifts in the flexibility and disorder (entropy) within the receptor protein complex. This mechanism allows for rapid and sensitive detection of chemical gradients, which is crucial for bacterial behaviors like chemotaxis—the movement toward nutrients or away from toxins.
Why it might matter to you: This work provides a foundational biophysical model for microbial signal transduction, a core process in host-microbe interactions and pathogenesis. Understanding this entropic switching mechanism could inform new strategies to disrupt quorum sensing or biofilm formation by targeting receptor dynamics. For researchers in antimicrobial resistance, it opens a novel avenue for intervention by focusing on the physical principles of bacterial sensing rather than just enzymatic activity.
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