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. 1978 Jan;133(1):320–328. doi: 10.1128/jb.133.1.320-328.1978

Effect of thymine concentration on cell shape in Thy- Escherichia coli B/r.

P A Meacock, R H Pritchard, E M Roberts
PMCID: PMC222010  PMID: 338584

Abstract

Cells of a thymineless mutant of Escherichia coli B/r are shown to change their shape when the concentration of thymine in the growth medium is reduced. Electron micrographs of whole cells and isolated sacculi were used to make quantitative measurements of the changes in cell length and width which occur as a result of such a change in thymine concentration. The results showed that there is an increase in cell volume, which is due to an increase in cell width accompanied by a decrease in cell length. These changes were compared with the predictions of models which assume that cell shape is influenced by the chromosome replication cycle.

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Selected References

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