Testing of a potential mechanism for E. coli temporal cycle imprecision with a structural model

Abstract

A structured model for E. coli B/r-A was used to test a potential mechanism for cell cycle temporal imprecision. The mechanism assumes that variations in the activity of septation enzymes can occur. Such variations result in D period imprecision while the chromosome replication schedule is not directly affected. The main results of inserting the mechanism were the predicted ratio of cell doubling time to fission size coefficient of variations agreed with reported data as did the predicted negative correlation between parent-offspring cycle times. Consequently, the proposed mechanism, which suggests that D period fluctuations are the primary source of cell cycle variations, appears consistent with observed cell behavior.