Regulation by nutrient limitation

Growth with suboptimal nutrient levels elicits adaptations not observed with either starving (resting) or unstressed bacteria. The hunger response results in patterns of gene expression optimising scavenging capabilities through novel control mechanisms. In Escherichia coli, recent results indicate that outer membrane permeability (porin and glycoporin regulation) as well as transport involving the phosphotransferase system and ABC-type high affinity transporters change under glucose limitation. Many other adaptations in expression and metabolic capabilities at subsaturating growth rates are still poorly understood, even in E. coli.