Table 2 Cell volume and morphological features of WWE3-OP11-OD1 ultra-small bacteria.

From: Diverse uncultivated ultra-small bacterial cells in groundwater

 

Cell volume (μm3)

Cytoplasm volume (μm3)

Cytoplasm volume occupied by DNA (%)*

Number of ribosomes †

Mean

0.009

0.005

21

42

Minimum

0.004

0.002

11

34

Maximum

0.013

0.008

42

59

  1. cryo-ET, cryo-electron tomogram; 3D, three-dimensional.
  2. The statistics are based on 13 cryo-ET 3D reconstructions.
  3. *For DNA volume calculations, we used a genome size of 0.878 Mb and a 2-nm diameter of the DNA double helix.
  4. †Regarding the number of ribosomes found in each 3D reconstruction, all densities that appeared to qualify as ribosomes (contrast, size and shape) were counted. Densities larger in shape and size than ribosomes were excluded.
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