Phenotypic plasticity and effects of selection on cell division symmetry in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Aging has been demonstrated in unicellular organisms and is presumably due to asymmetric distribution of damaged proteins and other components during cell division. Whether the asymmetry-induced aging is inevitable or an adaptive and adaptable response is debated. Although asymmetric division leads to aging and death of some cells, it increases the effective growth rate of the population as shown by theoretical and empirical studies. Mathematical models predict on the other hand, that if the cells divide symmetrically, cellular aging may be delayed or absent, growth rate will be reduced but growth yield will increase at optimum repair rates. Therefore in nutritionally dilute (oligotrophic) environments, where growth yield may be more critical for survival, symmetric division may get select

SUBMITTER: Lele UN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3018420 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature