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. 1989 Sep;171(9):4633–4639. doi: 10.1128/jb.171.9.4633-4639.1989

Cell length, nucleoid separation, and cell division of rod-shaped and spherical cells of Escherichia coli.

W D Donachie 1, K J Begg 1
PMCID: PMC210261  PMID: 2670889

Abstract

By comparing the dimensions and DNA contents of normal rod-shaped Escherichia coli with those of mutants that grow as spheres or ellipsoids, we have determined that two parameters remain unchanged: the DNA/mass ratio and the average cell length (diameter, for spherical cells). In consequence, the average volumes and DNA contents of the spherical mutant cells are about four to six times greater than those of rod-shaped cells growing at a similar rate. In addition, it was found that cells of both rod and sphere forms had approximately the same number of nucleoids (as seen when the DNA was condensed after inhibition of protein synthesis). The nucleoids of the spherical cells therefore consist of four to six completed chromosomes each (polytene nucleoids). We suggest that the attainment of a minimum cell length is necessary for nucleoid separation after chromosome replication and that such a separation is itself a prerequisite for septum formation.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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