Chromosome structuring limits genome plasticity in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Chromosome organizations of related bacterial genera are well conserved despite a very long divergence period. We have assessed the forces limiting bacterial genome plasticity in Escherichia coli by measuring the respective effect of altering different parameters, including DNA replication, compositional skew of replichores, coordination of gene expression with DNA replication, replication-associated gene dosage, and chromosome organization into macrodomains. Chromosomes were rearranged by large inversions. Changes in the compositional skew of replichores, in the coordination of gene expression with DNA replication or in the replication-associated gene dosage have only a moderate effect on cell physiology because large rearrangements inverting the orientation of several hundred genes insid

SUBMITTER: Esnault E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2134941 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature