Role of plasmids in the formation of E. Coli polycellular forms

The formation of polycellular forms by E. coli strain K-12 cells containing F-like plasmids pAP22-2 and pAP42 was studied by the method of small-angle laser scattering. The effi ciency and patterns of the resultant cell associations depend on genetic characteristics of the studied plasmids. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.