title: Intergenerational continuity of cell shape dynamics in Caulobacter crescentus.
abstract: We investigate the intergenerational shape dynamics of single Caulobacter crescentus cells using a novel combination of imaging techniques and theoretical modeling. We determine the dynamics of cell pole-to-pole lengths, cross-sectional widths, and medial curvatures from high accuracy measurements of cell contours. Moreover, these shape parameters are determined for over 250 cells across approximately 10000 total generations, which affords high statistical precision. Our data and model show that constriction is initiated early in the cell cycle and that its dynamics are controlled by the time scale of exponential longitudinal growth. Based on our extensive and detailed growth and contour data, we develop a minimal mechanical model that quantitatively accounts for the cell shape dynamics and suggests that the asymmetric location of the division plane reflects the distinct mechanical properties of the stalked and swarmer poles. Furthermore, we find that the asymmetry in the division plane location is inherited from the previous generation. We interpret these results in terms of the current molecular understanding of shape, growth, and division of C. crescentus.
authors.affiliation: 1] James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [2] Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637.
authors.forename: Shiladitya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: 1] James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [2] Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637.
authors.forename: Srividya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iyer-Biswas
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [2] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crosson
authors.affiliation: 1] James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [2] Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [3] Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637.
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dinner
authors.affiliation: 1] James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [2] Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 [3] Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637.
authors.forename: Norbert F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Scherer
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016935:Caulobacter crescentus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D008962:Models, Theoretical