title: Structure and partitioning of bacterial DNA: determined by a balance of compaction and expansion forces?
abstract: The mechanisms that determine chromosome structure and chromosome partitioning in bacteria are largely unknown. Here we discuss two hypotheses: (i) the structure of the Escherichia coli nucleoid is determined by DNA binding proteins and DNA supercoiling, representing a compaction force on the one hand, and by the coupled transcription/translation/translocation of plasma membrane and cell wall proteins, representing an expansion force on the other hand; (ii) the two forces are important for the partitioning process of chromosomes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, BioCentrum, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Woldringh
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Westerhoff
mesh_terms: D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins