Invariance of Initiation Mass and Predictability of Cell Size in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: It is generally assumed that the allocation and synthesis of total cellular resources in microorganisms are uniquely determined by the growth conditions. Adaptation to a new physiological state leads to a change in cell size via reallocation of cellular resources. However, it has not been understood how cell size is coordinated with biosynthesis and robustly adapts to physiological states. We show that cell size in Escherichia coli can be predicted for any steady-state condition by projecting all biosynthesis into three measurable variables representing replication initiation, replication-division cycle, and the global biosynthesis rate. These variables can be decoupled by selectively controlling their respective core biosynthesis using CRISPR interference and antibiotics, verifying our pr

SUBMITTER: Si F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5474944 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature