Length to which stalks of Caulobacter and Rhodomicrobium (usual length of ~1 to 3µm) elongate when grown in limiting phosphate

Range ≤20 µm
Organism bacteria
Reference Young KD. The selective value of bacterial shape. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2006 Sep70(3):660-703 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00001-06 p.668 right column 3rd paragraphPubMed ID16959965
Primary Source [33] Brun, Y. V., and R. Janakiraman. 2000. The dimorphic life cycle of Caulobacter and stalked bacteria, p. 297-317. In Y. V. Brun and L. J. Shimkets (ed.), Prokaryotic development. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. [61] Dow, C., and R. Whittenbury. 1979. Prosthecate bacteria, p. 139-165. In J. Parish (ed.), Developmental biology of prokaryotes. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, United Kingdom [97] Gonin M, Quardokus EM, O'Donnol D, Maddock J, Brun YV. Regulation of stalk elongation by phosphate in Caulobacter crescentus. J Bacteriol. 2000 Jan182(2):337-47 [289] Schmidt JM, Stanier RY. The development of cellular stalks in bacteria. J Cell Biol. 1966 Mar28(3):423-36PubMed ID10629178, 5960805
Method Primary source [289] abstract: "Extensive stalk elongation in Caulobacter and Asticcacaulis can be obtained in a defined medium by limiting the concentration of phosphate. Caulobacter cells which were initiating stalk formation were labeled with tritiated glucose. After removal of exogenous tritiated material, the cells were subjected to phosphate limitation while stalk elongation occurred. The location of tritiated material in the elongated stalks as detected by radioautographic techniques allowed identification of the site of stalk development."
Comments P.668 right column 3rd paragraph: "When grown in limiting phosphate, the stalks of Caulobacter and Rhodomicrobium elongate from their usual length of ∼1 to 3 μm to as much as 20 μm (primary sources 33, 61, 97, 289). The response is under direct genetic control, because Caulobacter mutants produce elongated stalks even in the presence of sufficient phosphate (primary sources 33, 97)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 115580