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Objectives <p>Recently, it was discovered that <i>Methylobacterium extorquens</i> possesses a spectrum of phenotypic states conferring non-genetic resistance to formaldehyde. The non-genetic resistance allowed rapid growth on levels of formaldehyde which were lethal to the majority of the population. To investigate whether this is a common phenomenon, we tested the distantly related <i>Escherichia coli</i> for heterogeneity to formaldehyde stress during growth on glucose.</p> Results <p>Like <i>M. extorquens</i>, <i>E. coli</i> populations have a wide, reversible, continuous range of non-genetic resistance to formaldehyde. However, there were differences from what was found for <i>M. extorquens</i>. Most <i>E. coli</i> growth occurred after formaldehyde levels had dropped, suggesting that an effect similar to antibiotic persistence could be the cause. We found the dormant cell state can maintain formaldehyde resistance through the lack of dilution of the proteome caused by growth. These data suggest that dormancy can preserve phenotypic heterogeneities in other traits.</p>

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Persistence preserves phenotypic heterogeneity in non-genetic formaldehyde resistance in Escherichia coli

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月16日

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  • Isaiah D. Jordan,
  • Tomislav Ticak,
  • Jessica A. Lee,
  • Christopher J. Marx

摘要

Objectives

Recently, it was discovered that Methylobacterium extorquens possesses a spectrum of phenotypic states conferring non-genetic resistance to formaldehyde. The non-genetic resistance allowed rapid growth on levels of formaldehyde which were lethal to the majority of the population. To investigate whether this is a common phenomenon, we tested the distantly related Escherichia coli for heterogeneity to formaldehyde stress during growth on glucose.

Results

Like M. extorquens, E. coli populations have a wide, reversible, continuous range of non-genetic resistance to formaldehyde. However, there were differences from what was found for M. extorquens. Most E. coli growth occurred after formaldehyde levels had dropped, suggesting that an effect similar to antibiotic persistence could be the cause. We found the dormant cell state can maintain formaldehyde resistance through the lack of dilution of the proteome caused by growth. These data suggest that dormancy can preserve phenotypic heterogeneities in other traits.