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Microbiol Mol Biol Rev, March 1998, p. 110-129, Vol. 62, No. 1
1092-2172/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Morphogenesis of Escherichia coli

Nanne Nanninga*

Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, BioCentrum Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The shape of Escherichia coli is strikingly simple compared to those of higher eukaryotes. In fact, the end result of E. coli morphogenesis is a cylindrical tube with hemispherical caps. It is argued that physical principles affect biological forms. In this view, genes code for products that contribute to the production of suitable structures for physical factors to act upon. After introduction of a physical model, the discussion is focused on the shape-maintaining (peptidoglycan) layer of E. coli. This is followed by a detailed analysis of the structural relationship of the cellular interior to the cytoplasmic membrane. A basic theme of this review is that the transcriptionally active nucleoid and the cytoplasmic translation machinery form a structural continuity with the growing cellular envelope. An attempt has been made to show how this dynamic relationship during the cell cycle affects cell polarity and how it leads to cell division.

* Mailing address: Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, BioCentrum Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 316, 1098SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: 31(20)525 5187. Fax: 31(20)525 6271. E-mail: nanninga{at}mc.bio.uva.nl.

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev, March 1998, p. 110-129, Vol. 62, No. 1
1092-2172/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 1998 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.