@article{90376, keywords = {Bacterial Proteins, Protein Kinases, Membrane Proteins, Flagella, Escherichia coli Proteins, Microscopy, Video, Molecular Motor Proteins, Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins}, author = {Thierry Mora and Fan Bai and Yong-Suk Che and Tohru Minamino and Keiichi Namba and Ned Wingreen}, title = {Non-genetic individuality in Escherichia coli motor switching.}, abstract = { By analyzing 30 min, high-resolution recordings of single Escherichia coli flagellar motors in the physiological regime, we show that two main properties of motor switching-the mean clockwise and mean counter-clockwise interval durations-vary significantly. When we represent these quantities on a two-dimensional plot for several cells, the data do not fall on a one-dimensional curve, as expected with a single control parameter, but instead spread in two dimensions, pointing to motor individuality. The largest variations are in the mean counter-clockwise interval, and are attributable to variations in the concentration of the internal signaling molecule CheY-P. In contrast, variations in the mean clockwise interval are interpreted in terms of motor individuality. We argue that the sensitivity of the mean counter-clockwise interval to fluctuations in CheY-P is consistent with an optimal strategy of run and tumble. The concomittent variability in mean run length may allow populations of cells to better survive in rapidly changing environments by {\textquoteright}hedging their bets{\textquoteright}. }, year = {2011}, journal = {Phys Biol}, volume = {8}, pages = {024001}, month = {04/2011}, issn = {1478-3975}, doi = {10.1088/1478-3975/8/2/024001}, language = {eng}, }