Single-cell model of prokaryotic cell cycle

•Prokaryotic cell cycle model based on CH theory at single cell level.•Linear and exponential growth laws of cell mass.•Universal formulas for relative cell mass, geometry and DNA content.

One of the recognized prokaryotic cell cycle theories is Cooper–Helmstetter (CH) theory which relates start of DNA replication to particular (initiation) cell mass, cell growth and division. Different aspects of this theory have been extensively studied in the past.In the present study CH theory was applied at single cell level. Universal equations were derived for different cell parameters (cell mass and volume, surface area, DNA amount and content) depending on constructivist cell cycle parameters (unit mass, replication and division times, cell age, cell cycle duration) based on selected growth laws of cell mass (linear, exponential). The equations derived can be integrated into single-cell models for the analysis and design of bacterial cells.