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. 1974 Jul;119(1):270–281. doi: 10.1128/jb.119.1.270-281.1974

Macromolecular Composition During Steady-State Growth of Escherichia coli B/r

Patrick P Dennis a,1, Hans Bremer a
PMCID: PMC245599  PMID: 4600702

Abstract

By using Escherichia coli B/r, the cellular amounts of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein were determined as a function of the steady-state growth rate (0.67 to 2.40 doublings per h) by a method which combines measurements of the RNA to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ratio and the differential rate of ribosomal protein synthesis with the Cooper and Helmstetter theory of DNA replication. The results indicate that the ratios RNA/DNA, RNA/protein, and protein/DNA give linear relationships with the growth rate (above 1.2 doublings per h), whereas RNA/cell and protein/cell show a more complex growth rate dependency. The significance of these relationships is discussed. Finally, a detailed description of the growth parameters and composition of E. coli B/r is presented.

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Selected References

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