Effects of growth rate, cell size, motion, and elemental stoichiometry on nutrient transport kinetics.

ABSTRACT: Nutrient acquisition is a critical determinant for the competitive advantage for auto- and osmohetero- trophs alike. Nutrient limited growth is commonly described on a whole cell basis through reference to a maximum growth rate (Gmax) and a half-saturation constant (KG). This empirical application of a Michaelis-Menten like description ignores the multiple underlying feedbacks between physiology contributing to growth, cell size, elemental stoichiometry and cell motion. Here we explore these relationships with reference to the kinetics of the nutrient transporter protein, the transporter rate density at the cell surface (TRD; potential transport rate per unit plasma-membrane area), and diffusion gradients. While the half saturation value for the limiting nutrient increases rapidly with cel

SUBMITTER: Flynn KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5942848 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature