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. 1975 Nov;124(2):857–862. doi: 10.1128/jb.124.2.857-862.1975

Effect of temperature on the size of Escherichia coli cells.

T E Shehata, A G Marr
PMCID: PMC235977  PMID: 1102533

Abstract

The distributions of cell volumes of steady-state Escherichia coli ML30G cultures at various temperatures were measured. For cultures in a minimal medium, the distributions were indistinguishable at several temperatures between 15 and 30 C; at higher temperatures the cells were slightly smaller, and at lower temperatures they were slightly larger. For cultures in a complex medium, the cells were slightly larger at both high and low temperatures of growth. An abrupt change of temperature within the middle range led to a transient change in the distribution of cell volume, suggesting that the size of dividing cells is well regulated. No synchrony of division was induced by a change in temperature.

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Selected References

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