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Are minichromosomes valid model systems for DNA replication control? Lessons learned from Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Asai Tsuneaki,
Bates David B.,
Boye Erik,
Kogoma Tokio
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00901.x
Subject(s) - biology , escherichia coli , replication (statistics) , escherichia coli proteins , dna replication , minichromosome , computational biology , genetics , dna , virology , gene , chromatin
Initiation of chromosome replication is a key event in the life cycle of any organism. Little is known, however, about the regulatory mechanisms of this vital process. Conventionally, the initiation mechanism of chromosome replication in microorganisms has been studied using plasmids in which an origin of chromosome replication has been cloned, rather than using the chromosome itself. The reason for this is that even bacterial chromosomes are so large that biochemical and genetic manipulations become difficult and cumbersome. Recently, the combination of flow cytometry and genetic methods, in which modifications of the replication origin are systematically introduced onto the chromosome, has made possible detailed studies of the molecular events involved in the control of replication initiation in Escherichia coli . The results indicate that requirements for initiation at the chromosomal origin, oriC , are drastically different from those for initiation at cloned oriC .