ABSTRACT In rod-shaped bacteria, cell morphology is correlated with the replication rate. For a given species, cells that replicate
faster are longer and have less cross-linked cell walls. Here, we propose a simple mechanochemical model that explains
the dependence of cell length and cross-linking on the replication rate. Our model shows good agreement with existing experimental
data and provides further evidence that cell wall synthesis is mediated by multienzyme complexes; however, our results
suggest that these synthesis complexes only mediate glycan insertion and cross-link severing, whereas recross-linking is performed
independently.