Open AccessEvidence for unequal segregation of cytochromes at cell division in Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Scott Robert I.,
Poole Robert K.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02087.x
Subject(s) - percoll , cytochrome , cytochrome b , escherichia coli , cytochrome c , cell division , biology , biochemistry , mutant , cell , bacteria , genetics , mitochondrion , centrifugation , gene , mitochondrial dna , enzyme
Cytochrome segregation at cell division was studied in an Escherichia coli mutant requiring δ‐amino‐laevulinic acid (δ‐ALA) for cytochrome synthesis and oxidative growth. Approximately three generations after transfer to δ‐ALA‐deficient medium, two sub‐populations of cells were distinguishable by their ampicillin sensitivity in a medium supporting growth only of cytochrome‐containing cells. The sub‐populations were separable on Percoll gradients: ampicillin‐sensitive cells contained higher cytochrome concentrations than insensitive cells. The results support a model that describes localized growing zones of membrane, which are conserved in successive cell cycles.