FLOW CYTOMETRIC NARROW-ANGLE LIGHT SCATTER AND CELL-SIZE DURING STARVATION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI IN ARTIFICIAL SEA-WATER

Flow cytometry was used to study starvation of Escherichia coli in art ificial sea water. Flow cytometric narrow-angle light scatter was comp ared and assessed in relation to the cell sizes obtained by scanning e lectron microscopy at low temperature, and by image analysis. A correl ation between narrow-angle light scatter and cell size was not observe d, although an acceptable correlation (r = -0.845) between narrow-angl e light scatter and the starvation period was observed. On the other h and, the distribution of narrow-angle light scatter at any given momen t of culture is asymmetric and may be associated with the cell size di stribution at the specific moment of starvation.