Non-genetic memory and restraint of cell-to-cell variability in bacteria

The Department of Human Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine
Invite you to a seminar

By:

Prof. Hanna Salman
University of Pittsburgh 

Topic:

Non-genetic memory and restraint of cell-to-cell variability in bacteria

Abstract:
Non-genetic variability in physical and functional properties of living cells is generated by cell proliferation, which suggests that properties are unreliably inherited between consecutive generations. But what is the extent of unreliability of inheritance? Do cellular properties have short, or long-term memory? Answering these questions enables us to uncover the sources that contribute to generating variability among genetically identical cells. It also allows us to develop an accurate description of how the properties of cells change over time. In this talk I will present our newly developed method that allows measuring and characterizing non-genetic inheritance (or cellular memory) in the model organism E. coli. The method utilizes a novel microfluidic device, coined “sisters machine”, that enables us to track and measure how two sister cells become different from each other over time. Our measurements quantify the contribution of cellular and environmental factors to cell variability, and reveal how non-genetic inheritance contributes to regulating the various cellular properties (e.g. size, growth rate, etc.) in future generations. We find that non-genetic cellular memory is property specific, and can last up to ∼10 generations, but decreases under stress.

Thursday, February 22nd  2024, at 13:00
Faculty of Medicine Building, room 120, TAU

Host: Dr. Yaara Oren
Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) | Department of Human Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry 
 School of Medicine | Tel Aviv University