Electron microscopic studies of replicating and catenated colicin factor E1 DNA isolated from minicells (DNA...

Replicating and catenated DNA molecules of colicin factor E1 that were isolated from minicells were observed by electron microscopy. Two new replicating structures that have been found include: molecules that contain two untwisted replicated branches of the same length and a twisted unreplicated branch, and a twisted circular molecule with a long tail. Other molecular forms identified include circular dimers, three types of catenated dimers (open-open, open-twisted, and twisted-twisted), catenated dimers in which one of the linked molecules is replicating, catenated trimers, and a tetamer.