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J Bacteriol. 1974 May; 118(2): 407-413
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Quantal Behavior of a Diffusible Factor Which Initiates Septum Formation at Potential Division Sites in Escherichia coli

R. M. Teather, J. F. Collins and W. D. Donachie

Medical Research Council Molecular Genetics Unit and Department of Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

ABSTRACT

Analysis of nucleated cell size in a minicell-producing strain of Escherichia coli and in its parental strain shows that the two distributions are considerably different. A model is proposed to account for this difference. The model states that: (i) in the mutant population, the cell poles are available as potential division sites in addition to the normally located division sites; (ii) the probability of a division occurring at any of the potential division sites is equal; and (iii) only enough "division factor" arises at each unit cell doubling to permit a single division. This factor is utilized entirely in the formation of a single septum. Thus, the occurrence of a polar division with the production of an anucleate minicell (which occurs only in the mutant strain) prevents the occurrence of a non-polar division, with the result that the average nucleated cell length is increased in minicell-producing strains. The model has been used to construct a theoretical population, and a number of parameters of the real and theoretical populations have been compared. The two populations are very similar in all of the parameters measured.

J Bacteriol. 1974 May; 118(2): 407-413
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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