The replicative origin of the E. coli chromosome binds to cell membranes only when hemimethylated

DNA from the E. coli replicative origin binds with high affinity to outer membrane preparations. Specific binding regions are contained within a 463 bp stretch of origin DNA between positions -46 and +417 on the oriC map. This region of DNA contains an unusually high number of GATC sites, the recognition sequence for the E. coli DNA adenine methylase. We show here that oriC DNA binds to membrane only when it is hemimethylated. The E. coli chromosomal origin is hemimethylated for 8-10 min after initiation of replication, and origin DNA binds to membranes only during this time period. Based on these results, we propose a speculative model for chromosome segregation in E. coli.