Polar localization of the replication origin and terminus in Escherichia coli nucleoids during chromosome partitioning (original) (raw)

1. Hironori Niki and
2. Sota Hiraga
3. Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan

Abstract

We show the intracellular localization of the Escherichia coli replication origin (oriC) and chromosome terminus during the cell division cycle by FISH. In newborn cells, oriC_is localized at the old-pole-proximal nucleoid border and the terminus at the new-pole-proximal nucleoid border. One copy of replicated_oriC migrates rapidly to the opposite nucleoid border. These_oriC_ copies are retained at both nucleoid borders, remaining at a constant distance from each cell pole. The terminus segment migrates from the nucleoid border to midcell and is retained there until the terminus is duplicated. The origin, terminus and other DNA regions show three migration patterns during active partitioning of daughter chromosomes.

• Cell division cycle
• FISH
• mitotic-like apparatus
• oriC
• positioning
• segregation

Footnotes

• ↵Corresponding author.

• E-MAIL niki{at}gpo.kumamoto-u.ac.jp; FAX 96-371-2408.

• • Received December 29, 1997.
  • Accepted February 4, 1998.

• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

•