identifier: METPO:1000881 label: cell length definition: A phenotype that inheres in a cell by virtue of its longer dimension when viewed on a plane. definition_source: DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.022 trait_category: MORPHOLOGY term_kind: CLASS mapping_status: REVIEWED parent_traits: - METPO:1000059 evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.022 snippet: cell size is tightly controlled notes: Review establishes cell size as an actively regulated phenotype, supporting length as a controlled cellular dimension. - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2014.11.022 snippet: cells grow by a fixed amount between divisions notes: Adder-model paper supports an inter-divisional length increment underlying cell-length distributions. causal_graphs: - graph_id: cell_length_division_growth_control title: Cell-length control by growth and division timing description: DOI-backed graph linking growth rate, division-site placement, and the adder size-control principle to the observed cell-length phenotype. nodes: - node_id: cell_length_trait label: cell length node_type: TRAIT grounding: METPO:1000881 description: Longer dimension of the rod-like or elongated cell body. - node_id: growth_rate label: elongation rate node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Rate at which the cell elongates between divisions. - node_id: adder_principle label: adder size control node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Mechanism by which cells add a fixed length increment between consecutive divisions. - node_id: ftsz_ring label: FtsZ ring (divisome) node_type: GENE_OR_PROTEIN description: Tubulin-like FtsZ-based contractile ring that organizes division. - node_id: division_site_placement label: division-site placement node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Spatial selection of the midcell division site. - node_id: cytokinesis label: cytokinesis node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Cell division that resets cell length each generation. grounding: GO:0000910 - node_id: elongasome label: Rod complex (elongasome) node_type: GENE_OR_PROTEIN description: MreB/RodA/PBP2-based multiprotein complex driving cell elongation. - node_id: sidewall_pg_synthesis label: sidewall peptidoglycan synthesis node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Lateral/sidewall PG insertion that lengthens the cell prior to division. - node_id: ftsa_zipa label: FtsA and ZipA (proto-ring tethers) node_type: GENE_OR_PROTEIN description: Membrane tethers that attach FtsZ to the membrane forming the proto-ring. - node_id: ftswi_septal_synthase label: FtsWI septal PG synthase node_type: GENE_OR_PROTEIN description: FtsW/FtsI complex that drives septal peptidoglycan synthesis. - node_id: septum_synthesis label: septum synthesis node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Septal PG synthesis driving division constriction. - node_id: min_nucleoid_occlusion label: Min system and nucleoid occlusion node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Spatial regulators acting as localized negative regulators of FtsZ polymerization. edges: - subject: growth_rate predicate: contributes to object: cell_length_trait description: Elongation rate sets how rapidly a cell extends along its long axis between divisions. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.022 snippet: cell size is tightly controlled notes: Supports growth/elongation rate as a determinant of cell size. predicate_id: RO:0002326 - subject: adder_principle predicate: regulates object: cell_length_trait description: Adder size control sets the inter-division length increment that determines average cell length. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2014.11.022 snippet: cells grow by a fixed amount between divisions notes: Supports the adder principle as the size-control rule producing the length distribution. predicate_id: RO:0002211 - subject: ftsz_ring predicate: assembles at object: division_site_placement description: FtsZ assembles at the future division site to initiate cytokinesis. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/nrmicro2671 snippet: FtsZ ring at the future division site notes: Supports FtsZ-ring assembly as the proximate divisome event. - subject: division_site_placement predicate: causes object: cytokinesis description: Division-site placement directs constriction and cytokinesis. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/nrmicro2671 snippet: directs cell division notes: Supports division-site placement as the trigger for cytokinesis. predicate_id: biolink:causes - subject: cytokinesis predicate: resets object: cell_length_trait description: Cytokinesis halves the mother cell, resetting daughter cell length. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2014.11.022 snippet: cells grow by a fixed amount between divisions notes: Supports division as the event that resets length each generation. - subject: elongasome predicate: mediates object: sidewall_pg_synthesis description: The Rod complex/elongasome drives sidewall peptidoglycan synthesis. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2023.1205488 notes: elongasome drives sidewall peptidoglycan synthesis necessary for rod shape and lengthening of the cell prior to division. - subject: sidewall_pg_synthesis predicate: contributes to object: cell_length_trait description: Sidewall PG synthesis lengthens the cell prior to division. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2023.1205488 notes: sidewall peptidoglycan synthesis necessary for the lengthening of the cell prior to division. predicate_id: RO:0002326 - subject: elongasome predicate: mediates object: growth_rate description: The Rod complex/elongasome mediates cell elongation. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/s42003-024-07279-y notes: elongation is mediated by the Rod complex (the elongasome). - subject: ftsa_zipa predicate: attaches object: ftsz_ring description: FtsA and ZipA tether FtsZ to the membrane forming the proto-ring. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/s41579-023-00942-x notes: FtsZ membrane attachment depends on tethers FtsA and ZipA (the proto-ring). - subject: ftswi_septal_synthase predicate: drives object: septum_synthesis description: FtsWI septal PG synthases drive septum synthesis. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/s41579-023-00942-x notes: essential septal peptidoglycan synthases FtsW and FtsI (FtsWI) that drive septum synthesis. - subject: septum_synthesis predicate: contributes to object: cytokinesis description: Septum synthesis drives division constriction completing cytokinesis. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/s41579-023-00942-x notes: inactivation of essential divisome proteins blocks division, altering cell length; septum synthesis drives division constriction. predicate_id: RO:0002326 - subject: min_nucleoid_occlusion predicate: regulates object: division_site_placement description: Min system and nucleoid occlusion determine division site placement via localized negative regulation of FtsZ polymerization. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/s41579-023-00942-x notes: the Min system and nucleoid occlusion act as localized negative regulators of FtsZ polymerization and thus determine division site placement. predicate_id: RO:0002211 curation_history: - timestamp: '2026-05-05T01:35:46.918489+00:00' curator: seed_from_metpo action: SEEDED_FROM_METPO changes: imported from data/raw/metpo.owl (CLASS) llm_assisted: false - timestamp: '2026-05-11T22:30:00-07:00' curator: claude action: CURATED_CAUSAL_GRAPH changes: Added DOI-backed causal graph linking elongation rate, adder size control, FtsZ-divisome division-site placement, and cytokinesis to cell length. llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-05-20T03:35:31Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_PREDICATES changes: Grounded 2 causal-edge predicate_id field(s) via mappings/predicate_grounding.tsv (RO:0002326×1, RO:0002211×1). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-05-26T05:00:48Z' curator: claude action: RENAME_PREDICATE_LABELS changes: 'Renamed 1 causal-edge predicate label(s) to align with existing groundings: triggers → causes ×1.' llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-05-26T05:00:50Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_PREDICATES changes: Grounded 1 causal-edge predicate_id field(s) via mappings/predicate_grounding.tsv (biolink:causes×1). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-14T05:51:46Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_NODES changes: Grounded 1 causal-node grounding field(s) via mappings/node_grounding.tsv (GO:0000910×1). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-23T00:00:00Z' curator: claude action: ENRICH_CAUSAL_GRAPH changes: Added 7 evidence-backed generic edges (6 new nodes) from the deep-research report. llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-24T17:21:13Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_PREDICATES changes: Grounded 3 causal-edge predicate_id field(s) via mappings/predicate_grounding.tsv (RO:0002326×2, RO:0002211×1). llm_assisted: true