title: Effect of temperature on the size of Escherichia coli cells.
abstract: The distributions of cell volumes of steady-state Escherichia coli ML30G cultures at various temperatures were measured. For cultures in a minimal medium, the distributions were indistinguishable at several temperatures between 15 and 30 C; at higher temperatures the cells were slightly smaller, and at lower temperatures they were slightly larger. For cultures in a complex medium, the cells were slightly larger at both high and low temperatures of growth. An abrupt change of temperature within the middle range led to a transient change in the distribution of cell volume, suggesting that the size of dividing cells is well regulated. No synchrony of division was induced by a change in temperature.
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media