A metabolic sensor governing cell size in bacteria

Nutrient availability is one of the strongest determinants of cell size. When grown in rich media, single-celled organisms such as yeast and bacteria can be up to twice the size of their slow-growing counterparts. The ability to modulate size in a nutrient-dependent manner requires cells to: (1) det...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell 2007-07, Vol.130 (2), p.335-347
Main Authors: Weart, Richard B, Lee, Amy H, Chien, An-Chun, Haeusser, Daniel P, Hill, Norbert S, Levin, Petra Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus subtilis - cytology
Bacillus subtilis - growth & development
Bacillus subtilis - metabolism
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Bacterial Proteins - ultrastructure
Chromosome Segregation - genetics
Chromosomes, Bacterial - metabolism
Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism
Cytoskeletal Proteins - ultrastructure
DNA Replication
Food
Models, Biological
Mutation - genetics
Phenotype
Protein Transport
Uridine Diphosphate Glucose - biosynthesis
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Summary:Nutrient availability is one of the strongest determinants of cell size. When grown in rich media, single-celled organisms such as yeast and bacteria can be up to twice the size of their slow-growing counterparts. The ability to modulate size in a nutrient-dependent manner requires cells to: (1) detect when they have reached the appropriate mass for a given growth rate and (2) transmit this information to the division apparatus. We report the identification of a metabolic sensor that couples nutritional availability to division in Bacillus subtilis. A key component of this sensor is an effector, UgtP, which localizes to the division site in a nutrient-dependent manner and inhibits assembly of the tubulin-like cell division protein FtsZ. This sensor serves to maintain a constant ratio of FtsZ rings to cell length regardless of growth rate and ensures that cells reach the appropriate mass and complete chromosome segregation prior to cytokinesis.
ISSN:0092-8674
DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2007.05.043