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Updated: Oct 11, 2026

Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
Published on: September 11, 2017
A tale of two genomes: resolution of dimeric chromosomes in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis
1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Dimeric chromosomes can be formed during replication of circular bacterial chromosomes by an odd number of homologous recombination events between sister chromosomes. In the absence of a compensating recombination reaction such dimers cannot be segregated from each other as the cell divides. This review highlights the shared and divergent mechanisms employed by Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis in their effort to resolve and partition dimeric chromosomes safely. In particular, we discuss the Xer-type recombinases, RecA, FtsK/SpoIIIE, and dif.
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