Bacteria can rapidly and reversibly respond to changing environments via complex
transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Many of these adaptations
are specific, with the regulatory output tailored to the inducing signal (for instance, repairing
damage to cell components or improving acquisition and use of growth-limiting nutrients).
However, the general stress response, activated in bacterial cells entering stationary phase
or subjected to nutrient depletion or cellular damage, is unique in that its common, broad …