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New Electron Microscopic Data on the Structure of the Nucleoid and Their Functional Consequences

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Bacterial Chromatin

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

The DNA of the bacterial genome is organised quite differently from that of eukaryotic cells: Since only one linkage group exists, the “genome” of the bacterium is considered to be a single chromosome. A simple mechanism of division would allow an equipartition of the bacterial genome, in contrast to organisms with multiple chromosomes, where the chromosomes, condensed in metaphase, are presumably separated by the mitotic spindle fibers. In the condensed, compact form, the DNA is neither replicating nor transcriptionally active. In prokaryotes, replication and transcription are continuous when the cells are under optimal growth conditions (see Ingraham et al. 1983). Furthermore, Miller et al. (1970) showed that initiation of translation occurs as soon as a piece of the messenger RNA becomes available on the transcribing DNA.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Biozentrum of the University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    M. A. Bjornsti, J. A. Hobot, W. Villiger & E. Kellenberger

  2. Basel Institute for Immunology, 4005, Basel, Switzerland

    A. S. Kelus

Authors
  1. M. A. Bjornsti
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  2. J. A. Hobot
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  3. A. S. Kelus
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  4. W. Villiger
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  5. E. Kellenberger
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Laboratory of Genetics, University of Camerino, I-62032, Camerino (MC), Italy

    Claudio O. Gualerzi

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Ihnestraße 73, D-1000, Berlin 33, Germany

    Claudio O. Gualerzi  & Cynthia L. Pon  & 

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Dedicated to Karl Lickfeld in honor of his 60th birthday.

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© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bjornsti, M.A., Hobot, J.A., Kelus, A.S., Villiger, W., Kellenberger, E. (1986). New Electron Microscopic Data on the Structure of the Nucleoid and Their Functional Consequences. In: Gualerzi, C.O., Pon, C.L. (eds) Bacterial Chromatin. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71266-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71266-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-71268-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-71266-1

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