title: Polar localization of the Escherichia coli oriC region is independent of the site of replication initiation.
abstract: The location of the origin-linked region of the Escherichia coli chromosome was analysed in strains lacking the core origin locus, oriC. In these strains, which initiate replication from F factors integrated at different locations around the chromosome, origin-linked DNA remains localized near the cell poles, as in wild-type cells. In contrast, minichromosomes containing 7 kb of chromosomal DNA including oriC are generally excluded from the ends of the cell. Thus, we propose that positioning of the wild-type origins at the poles is not a function of their order of replication but a sequence-specific phenomenon. It is proposed that there are centromere-like sequences, bordering the wild-type origin of replication, which are used by host mechanisms to direct the proper placement of the origin region of the chromosome. This function, combined with other host processes, may assure efficient segregation of the E. coli chromosome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: G Scott
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Shivers
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D016764:Cell Polarity; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D051738:Origin Recognition Complex; D018741:Replication Origin / Q000235:genetics*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C114650:OriC chromosomal replication origin; D051738:Origin Recognition Complex; D014764:Viral Proteins