Chemotaxis is the process where cells move in response to external chemical gradients. It has mainly been viewed as a foraging and defense mechanism, enabling bacteria to move towards nutrients or away from toxins. We recently found that the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis performs chemotaxis towards DNA. While DNA can serve as a nutrient for B. subtilis, our results suggest that the response is not to DNA itself but rather to the information encoded within the DNA. In particular, we found that B. subtilis prefers DNA from more closely related species. These results suggest that B. subtilis seeks out specific DNA sequences that are more abundant in its own and related chromosomes. In this talk, I will discuss the mechanism of DNA sensing and chemotaxis in B. subtilis. I will conclude by discussing the physiological significance of DNA chemotaxis with regards to natural competence and kin identification.
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