Metabolism, cell growth and the bacterial cell cycle

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2009 Nov;7(11):822-7. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2202. Epub 2009 Oct 6.

Abstract

Adaptation to fluctuations in nutrient availability is a fact of life for single-celled organisms in the 'wild'. A decade ago our understanding of how bacteria adjust cell cycle parameters to accommodate changes in nutrient availability stemmed almost entirely from elegant physiological studies completed in the 1960s. In this Opinion article we summarize recent groundbreaking work in this area and discuss potential mechanisms by which nutrient availability and metabolic status are coordinated with cell growth, chromosome replication and cell division.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / cytology
  • Bacillus subtilis / growth & development
  • Bacillus subtilis / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Cycle*
  • Cell Division
  • Culture Media*
  • DNA Replication
  • Escherichia coli* / cytology
  • Escherichia coli* / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Culture Media