Helical growth of Bacillus subtilis: a new model of cell growth.
A multiple mutant of Bacillus subtilis that grows in an unusual double-helix morphology was studied. Construction of models led to the assumption that cell surface elongation must proceed in a helical path in this mutant. The observation that all newly formed double-helix clones propagated, after spore outgrowth in fluid culture, consisted of closed-circular structures suggested that double-helix structures are tension-registered forms.
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002999:Clone Cells; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D013171:Spores, Bacterial