Asymmetric division and polar growth define a non-canonical cell cycle in Bradyrhizobium.
- 1Laboratorio de Genomica Experimental Bacteriana, Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas (IIB), Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologias (EByN), Universidad Nacion
Abstract
Bradyrhizobia are widely used as plant growth promoters in agriculture, yet their cell biology remains poorly understood. Here, we described for the first time, nucleoid segregation dynamics and the cell cycle of Bradyrhizobium at the cellular level. We show that highly asymmetric polar growth generates a short daughter cell and a longer mother cell at each division. Nucleoid compaction and positioning change across growth phases, culminating in a highly compacted, asymmetrically positioned nucleoid in stationary phase. ParB presents a subpolar localization, at the nucleoid periphery. Despite this pronounced cellular asymmetry and the presence of a single large chromosome, chromosome conformation capture reveals a global chromosome organization similar to that of bacteria undergoing conventional binary fission Together, these findings uncover a distinctive cell cycle program in Bradyrhizobium. showing that such extreme asymmetry in growth and division, significantly different from closely related characterized -Proteobacteriota, is compatible with conserved principles of chromosome organization.
Related
- Cell Position-Associated Division Orders and Cell Cycle Durations Shape Asymmetric Trajectories of Cell Fates and Morphological Events in Pre- and Peri-implantation Mouse Embryos
- Live imaging reveals oocyte membrane pre-remodeling forming permissive space for asymmetric division
- Coupling between Notch signalling and junctional mechanics during asymmetric division of sensory organ precursors
- Comparative genomics of canonical antifungal dsRNA target genes across fungal plant pathogens: conserved siRNA-length windows define the scope for broad-spectrum spray-induced gene silencing
- Robust planar morphogenesis in leaf-like organs requires callose-dependent coordination of division and growth
BibTeX
@misc{medici2026asymmetric,
title = {{Asymmetric division and polar growth define a non-canonical cell cycle in Bradyrhizobium.}},
author = {I. F. Medici and J. Bressano and D. J. Comerci and E. J. Mongiardini and V. S. Lioy and A. Soler-Bistue},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.64898/2026.11.05.764102},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.05.764102v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Asymmetric division and polar growth define a non-canonical cell cycle in Bradyrhizobium.
AU - I. F. Medici
AU - J. Bressano
AU - D. J. Comerci
AU - E. J. Mongiardini
AU - V. S. Lioy
AU - A. Soler-Bistue
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.11.05.764102
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.05.764102v1
AB - Bradyrhizobia are widely used as plant growth promoters in agriculture, yet their cell biology remains poorly understood. Here, we described for the first time, nucleoid segregation dynamics and the cell cycle of Bradyrhizobium at the cellular level. We show that highly asymmetric polar growth generates a short daughter cell and a longer mother cell at each division. Nucleoid compaction and positioning change across growth phases, culminating in a highly compacted, asymmetrically positioned nucleoid in stationary phase. ParB presents a subpolar localization, at the nucleoid periphery. Despite this pronounced cellular asymmetry and the presence of a single large chromosome, chromosome conformation capture reveals a global chromosome organization similar to that of bacteria undergoing conventional binary fission Together, these findings uncover a distinctive cell cycle program in Bradyrhizobium. showing that such extreme asymmetry in growth and division, significantly different from closely related characterized -Proteobacteriota, is compatible with conserved principles of chromosome organization.
ER -