FIG 4.

Low C/N availability favors growth as planktonic cells. (a) CFUs per milliliter for WT M. smegmatis grown in rich medium (no glucose). Each data point is the average from biological triplicates, and error bars represent standard deviations. Roman numerals denote three phases of growth as described in the text. (b) Aggregation curve of WT M. smegmatis in rich medium (no glucose). At indicated time points, three additional cultures were harvested for NH₄ IC measurements. Each NH₄ data point is an average from biological triplicates, and error bars represent standard deviations. Aggregation curve data are representative of n = 5 trials. (c) Aggregation curve of WT M. smegmatis in rich medium (no glucose) with no NH₄Cl, 25 mM NH₄Cl, or 75 mM NH₄Cl. The top panel shows the aggregated fraction, and the bottom panel shows the planktonic fraction. Data are representative of n = 3 trials.