MORPHOGENESIS OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI

The shape of Escherichia coli is strikingly simple compared to those o f higher eukaryotes. In fact, the end result of E. coli morphogenesis is a cylindrical tube with hemispherical caps. it is argued that physi cal principles affect biological forms. In this view, genes code for p roducts that contribute to the production of suitable structures for p hysical factors to act upon. After introduction of a physical model, t he discussion is focused on the shape-maintaining (peptidoglycan) laye r of E. coli. This is followed by a detailed analysis of the structura l relationship of the cellular interior to the cytoplasmic membrane. A basic theme of this review is that the transcriptionally active nucle oid and the cytoplasmic translation machinery form a structural contin uity with the growing cellular envelope. An attempt has been made to s how how this dynamic relationship during the cell cycle affects cell p olarity and how it leads to cell division.