[Electron microscopic research on the extrachromosomal genetic elements of Escherichia coli]

The structural organization of extrachromosomal genetic elements were studied in a subfraction obtained after centrifugation of the lysate of E. coli spheroplasts. With this method of isolation, the tertiary structure of the extrachromosomal genetic elements was preserved. The majority of DNA macromolecules were released in the form of single and connected rosettes. Typical rosettes composed of radial loops of DNA clustered around the central dense core (the diameter is about 60 nm). The mean length of the rosette loops was 1.06 +/- 0.4 micron. Both relaxed folded and supercoiled folded forms of DNA were observed on the preparation. Sometimes the rosettes were connected with large aggregates of DNA (possibly the material of bacterial chromosomes) and had the appearance of thick fibers with numerous lateral loops. Linear, cyclic and various replicative forms of DNA have also been observed. It is assumed that rosettes of the extrachromosomal elements of E. coli reflect one of the levels of organization of prokaryotic genetic material.