Is 'hollowness' an adaptation of large prokaryotes to their largeness?

J. Larkin, Louisiana State University
M. C. Henk, Louisiana State University

Abstract

Large bacteria may have adapted to their largeness by producing a large central vacuole which keeps the cytoplasm near the outer surface of the cell. The vacuole and cytoplasm appear to be separated by a unit membrane. This adaptation may help to maintain an acceptable ratio between the surface area of the cell and the cytoplasmic volume for the exchange of metabolites through the surface.