Biomaterial Database

Control of cell division in Escherichia coli: experiments with thymine starvation. 1969

W D Donachie

This paper describes the kinetics of cell division in populations of cells which have been grown first under conditions which specifically inhibit deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis (in the absence of thymine or the presence of nalidixic acid) and subsequently under conditions which allow DNA synthesis to recommence. Cell division does not take place during inhibition of DNA synthesis. There is a delay between recommencement of DNA synthesis and recommencement of cell division. The length of this delay increases as a function of the length of the preceding period of inhibition of DNA synthesis. The first division after this delay is partly synchronous, but all subsequent division is asynchronous. These observations are explained in terms of a model which supposes that the formation of initiator of chromosome replication during a period when DNA synthesis is inhibited results in a block to cell division. Division does not then occur until this "extra" round of DNA synthesis is completed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009268	Nalidixic Acid	A synthetic 1,8-naphthyridine antimicrobial agent with a limited bacteriocidal spectrum. It is an inhibitor of the A subunit of bacterial DNA GYRASE.	Nalidixin,Nalidixate Sodium,Nalidixate Sodium Anhydrous,Nevigramon,Sodium Nalidixic Acid, Anhydrous,Sodium Nalidixic Acid, Monohydrate,Acid, Nalidixic,Anhydrous, Nalidixate Sodium,Sodium Anhydrous, Nalidixate,Sodium, Nalidixate
D002455	Cell Division	The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION.	M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D002876	Chromosomes, Bacterial	Structures within the nucleus of bacterial cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell.	Bacterial Chromosome,Bacterial Chromosomes,Chromosome, Bacterial
D004261	DNA Replication	The process by which a DNA molecule is duplicated.	Autonomous Replication,Replication, Autonomous,Autonomous Replications,DNA Replications,Replication, DNA,Replications, Autonomous,Replications, DNA
D004269	DNA, Bacterial	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of bacteria.	Bacterial DNA
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D013941	Thymine	One of four constituent bases of DNA.	5-Methyluracil,5 Methyluracil
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor