ColE1 plasmid replication: a simple kinetic description from a structured model.

Time constant analysis illustrates how a complex model for ColE-1-type plasmid replication can be reduced to a simple, realistic description of the overall replication kinetics. The analysis leads to the identification of the key parameters governing plasmid replication and to the estimation of parameters that are difficult to determine experimentally. The overall kinetics of ColE1-type plasmid replication are zerothorder in production and first order in dilution. Experimental data confirm our predictions. Similar analysis of the postulated mechanism for the action of the Rom protein reveals that it has no significant effect on plasmid replication dynamics.