title: Metal ion content of Escherichia coli versus cell age.
abstract: The potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc ion content of cells in exponential and synchronously growing cultures of Escherichia coli B/r was determined with an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Cellular potassium, calcium, and magnesium content increased smoothly during the cell cycle, but cellular zinc showed a steplike increase about 10 to 15 min after cell division in a culture having a doubling time of 47 min. The possible role of cellular zinc in the control of cell division is discussed.
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000032:analysis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium