Extended Data Fig. 7: EvolvR enables targeted genome diversification without affecting viability or growth rate.

a, The viability of TG1 E. coli expressing EvolvR targeted to the essential rpsE gene was significantly higher than TG1 E. coli transformed with the MP6 plasmid and induced with 25 mM arabinose and 25 mM glucose (a previously developed plasmid for continuous non-targeted mutagenesis³², P = 0.0108) as well as XL1-Red E. coli (a previously developed strain for continuous non-targeted mutagenesis³³, P = 0.0105). Viability was measured relative to TG1 E. coli transformed with an empty control plasmid. Data are mean ± s.d. from three biologically independent samples. *P < 0.05; two-tailed t-test. b, TG1 E. coli transformed with an empty control plasmid and TG1 E. coli transformed with pEvolvR targeting the rpsE gene resulted in similar growth curves whereas XL1-Red E. coli and TG1 E. coli transformed with MP6 plasmid and induced with 25 mM arabinose and 25 mM glucose grew much slower and saturated at lower final optical densities. Shaded area represents mean ± s.d. from three biologically independent samples. c, The spectinomycin-resistant CFUs per ml saturated culture of TG1 E. coli targeting EvolvR to the rpsE gene was significantly higher than XL1-Red E. coli (P = 0.022) and TG1 E. coli transformed with MP6 plasmid and induced with 25 mM arabinose and 25 mM glucose (P = 0.0049). Data are mean ± s.d. from three biologically independent samples. *P < 0.05; two-tailed t-test.