Mycobacteria modify their cell size control under sub-optimal carbon sources
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Shahrezaei, V
Robertson, B
Thomas, P
Priestman, M
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The decision to divide is the most important one that any cell must make. Recent single cell studies suggest that most bacteria follow an “adder” model of cell size control, incorporating a fixed amount of cell wall material before dividing. Mycobacteria, including the causative agent of tuberculosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are known to divide asymmetrically resulting in heterogeneity in growth rate, doubling time, and other growth characteristics in daughter cells. The interplay between asymmetric cell division and adder size control has not been extensively investigated. Moreover, the impact of changes in the environment on growth rate and cell size control have not been addressed for mycobacteria. Here, we utilize time-lapse microscopy coupled with microfluidics to track live Mycobacterium smegmatis cells as they grow and divide over multiple generations, under a variety of growth conditions. We demonstrate that, under optimal conditions, M. smegmatis cells robustly follow the adder principle, with constant added length per generation independent of birth size, growth rate, and inherited pole age. However, the nature of the carbon source induces deviations from the adder model in a manner that is dependent on pole age. Understanding how mycobacteria maintain cell size homoeostasis may provide crucial targets for the development of drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis, which remains a leading cause of global mortality.
Date Issued
2017-07-24
Date Acceptance
2017-06-22
Citation
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2017, 5
ISSN
2296-634X
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Volume
5
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Priestman, Thomas, Robertson and Shahrezaei. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Sponsor
Imperial College Trust
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Grant Number
ICT/P52635/VS
Subjects
adder
asymmetric cell division
cell size control
mycobacteria
sizer
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
64