Directed evolution of cell size in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In bacteria, cell size affects chromosome replication, the assembly of division machinery, cell wall synthesis, membrane synthesis and ultimately growth rate. In addition, cell size can also be a target for Darwinian evolution for protection from predators. This strong coupling of cell size and growth, however, could lead to the introduction of growth defects after size evolution. An important question remains: can bacterial cell size change and/or evolve without imposing a growth burden?

Results

The directed evolution of particular cell sizes, without a growth burden, was tested with a laboratory Escherichia coli strain. Cells of defined size ranges were collected by a cell sorter and were subsequently cultured. This selection-propagation cycle was repeated, and

SUBMITTER: Yoshida M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4279887 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature