Modeling microbial growth: A model of growth and cell division of escherichia coli

A dynamic model has been developed to quantitate the dynamics of growth of Escherichia coli. The model integrates the preexisting models of chromosome replication and cell division by incorporating a description of the synthesis and degradation of ribosomes and protein. Relevant features of the model are: a threshold control for DNA synthesis and a double feedback mechanism that controls ribosome synthesis. The model generates accurate predictions of the kinetics of growth and cell composition of Escherichia coli B/r cells, each growth condition being defined by a set of parameters.