Genetic manipulation of structural color in bacterial colonies
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Naturally occurring photonic structures are responsible for the bright and vivid coloration in a large variety of living organisms. Despite efforts to understand their biological functions, development, and complex optical response, little is known of the underlying genes involved in the development of these nanostructures in any domain of life. Here, we used Flavobacterium colonies as a model system to demonstrate that genes responsible for gliding motility, cell shape, the stringent response, and tRNA modification contribute to the optical appearance of the colony. By structural and optical analysis, we obtained a detailed correlation of how genetic modifications alter structural color in bacterial colonies. Understanding of genotype and phenotype relations in this system opens the way to genetic engineering of on-demand living optical materials, for use as paints and living sensors.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 115 |
Issue number | 11 |
Pages (from-to) | 2652-2657 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 0027-8424 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 National Academy of Sciences. All Rights Reserved.
- Disorder, Flavobacteria, Genetics, Self-organization, Structural color
Research areas
ID: 380650838