Fine-tuning citrate synthase flux potentiates and refines metabolic innovation in the Lenski evolution experiment

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Abstract

Evolutionary innovations that enable organisms to colonize new ecological niches are rare compared to gradual evolutionary changes in existing traits. We discovered that key mutations in the gltA gene, which encodes citrate synthase (CS), occurred both before and after Escherichia coli gained the ability to grow aerobically on citrate (Cit⁺ phenotype) during the Lenski long-term evolution experiment. The first gltA mutation, which increases CS activity by disrupting NADH-inhibition of this enzyme, is beneficial for growth on the acetate and contributed to preserving the rudimentary Cit⁺ trait from extinction when it first evolved. However, after Cit⁺ was refined by further mutations, this potentiating gltA mutation became deleterious to fitness. A second wave of beneficial gltA mutations then evolved that reduced CS activity to below the ancestral level. Thus, dynamic reorganization of central metabolism made colonizing this new nutrient niche contingent on both co-opting and overcoming a history of prior adaptation.

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Erik M Quandt

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Jimmy Gollihar

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Zachary D Blount

BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Andrew D Ellington

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
George Georgiou

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Jeffrey E Barrick

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States

For correspondence
jbarrick@cm.utexas.edu

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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