title: Direct visualization of plasmid DNA in bacterial cells.
abstract: The direct visualization of plasmid DNA inside Escherichia coli cells is demonstrated using phase-fluorescence microscopy of DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole)-stained bacteria. Small as well as large plasmids could be detected, both in minicells and in cells of larger size. For large plasmids, even single molecules appeared to be within the detection limit. The fluorescence generated from monomers of small plasmids was probably below this limit, and for these plasmids the observed signals may represent aggregates. The distribution of the fluorescence foci might reflect specific plasmid positioning during partition and/or replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eliasson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernander
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nordström
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; C007293:DAPI