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The Escherichia coli chromosome is organized with the left and right chromosome arms in separate cell halves
Author(s) -
Nielsen Henrik J.,
Ottesen Jesper R.,
Youngren Brenda,
Austin Stuart J.,
Hansen Flemming G.
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05346.x
Subject(s) - biology , nucleoid , chromosome , cell division , genetics , circular bacterial chromosome , microbiology and biotechnology , chromosome segregation , dna replication , cell , escherichia coli , dna , gene
Summary We have developed a system for the simultaneous labelling of two specific chromosomal sites using two different fluorescent ParB/ parS systems. Using this, we demonstrate that the two chromosome arms are spatially arranged in newborn cells such that markers on the left arm of the chromosome lie in one half of the cell and markers on the right arm of the chromosome lie in the opposite half. This is achieved by reorganizing the chromosome arms of the two nucleoids in pre‐division cells relative to the cell quarters. The spatial reorganization of the chromosome arms ensures that the two replication forks remain in opposite halves of the cell during replication. The relative orientation of the two reorganized nucleoids in pre‐division cells is not random. Approximately 80% of dividing cells have their nucleoids oriented in a tandem configuration.