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Fig. 2 | BMC Bioinformatics

Fig. 2

From: Understanding and mathematical modelling of cellular resource allocation in microorganisms: a comparative synthesis

Fig. 2

The relationship between cellular objective and resource allocation with changing growth conditions. The environmental stress increases as growth conditions vary from optimal (sufficient nutrients to support the maximal growth) to nutrient-limiting, e.g. in the case of carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus limitation and finally to growth-threatening (strong perturbations on bacterial homeostasis). During this process, the growth rate reduces from the maximal value (\(\lambda_{max}\)) to almost zero (i.e. the cell stops growing). The signal molecule ppGpp accumulates as a result of the general stress or stringent response [22]. The cellular objective shifts from maximizing growth to ensuring bacterial survival. Subsequently, resource allocation becomes less coupled with the growth rate and eventually functions for ensuring survival

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