Thursday, March 5, 2026

Cell Division Site Placement and Asymmetric Growth in Mycobacteria

Authors: Graham Joyce, Kerstin J. Williams, Matthew Robb, Elke Noens, Barbara Tizzano, Vahid Shahrezaei, Brian D. Robertson

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044582

Abstract Summary

Mycobacteria divide symmetrically at mid-cell, but appear asymmetric due to unequal growth rates at opposite cell polesโ€”with one end growing twice as fast as the other. Live imaging reveals these bacteria don’t use cell length as a division trigger, unlike other rod-shaped bacteria, highlighting their unique growth strategy.

Why Brain? ๐Ÿง 

Mycobacteria divide symmetrically at mid-cell but grow asymmetrically from poles at different rates, challenging previous assumptions and revealing unique cell division mechanisms distinct from other bacteria.

License: CC BY.


The image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only. Courtesy of Midjourney.

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