Instructive Simulation of the Prokaryotic Cell Cycle at http://simon. bio.uva.nl/cellcycle/
International Conference and Exhibition on Biochemical & Molecular Engineering
October 07-08, 2013 Hilton San Antonio Airport, TX, USA

Arieh Zaritsky

Keynote: Biochem Anal Biochem

Abstract:

Discussing practical challenges encountered in Biochemical and Molecular Engineering requires deep knowledge of the Physiology of the host that is commonly exploited as the working horse in these studies, Escherichia coli , which also serves as a model system for other prokaryotes. Coupling between bacterial DNA replication and cell division that includes temporal and spatial elements has globally been resolved, but details and action mechanisms are still obscure. The time sequence of the Bacterial Cell Division Cycle, termed The Central Dogma in Bacterial Physiology (BCD), defines 3 periods between 4 events: B , from birth to initiation of DNA replication, C, from initiation to termination, and D, from termination to the division, analogous respectively to Eukaryotic G 1 , S and G 2 . The values of C and D are relatively constant (40 & 20 min respectively) in doubling times �? < 70 min at 37oC hence B disappears at t < 60 min. When t < C, re-initiation precedes termination. BCDs 4th relatively constant parameter is the ratio cell mass / number of chromosome origins ( oriC ) at initiation Mi. BCD explains changes in cell size and composition with t and in mutants, as illustrated by the user-friendly program CCSim at http://simon.bio.uva.nl/cellcycle/. These 4 independent parameters ( t , C, D, Mi ) are sufficient to describe cells growing under various conditions and during well-defined transitions. CCSim animates a replicating chromosome and growing bacterium. It serves as an educational tool and to compare experimental results with BCD and hence improve our understanding of regulatory mechanisms.

Biography :

Arieh Zaritsky has completed his Ph.D. in Leicester University (UK, 1971) and postdoctoral studies in Copenhagen University-Ins titute of Microbiology (DK). He was the Chairman elect of Ben-Gurion Universitys Life Sciences Department (1989-91). During his 45-years career, AZ has published over 120 articles and reviewed many manuscripts in Peer-reviewed, reputed periodicals, visited the following Universities: Amsterdam (NL), Yale, Berkeley, Arizona, Florida, Harvard (USA), Wuhan (PRC) and Griffith (Australia), awarded numerous, highly competitive Research Grants and personal Fellowships (from e.g., Burrough- Wellcome, EMBO, UNESCO, WHO, US-AID, BSF), and supervised over 40 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and established scientists.