A model for Escherichia coli chromosome packaging supports transcription factor-induced DNA domain formation.

ABSTRACT: What physical mechanism leads to organization of a highly condensed and confined circular chromosome? Computational modeling shows that confinement-induced organization is able to overcome the chromosome's propensity to mix by the formation of topological domains. The experimentally observed high precision of separate subcellular positioning of loci (located on different chromosomal domains) in Escherichia coli naturally emerges as a result of entropic demixing of such chromosomal loops. We propose one possible mechanism for organizing these domains: regulatory control defined by the underlying E. coli gene regulatory network requires the colocalization of transcription factor genes and target genes. Investigating this assumption, we find the DNA chain to self-organize into several topolog

SUBMITTER: Fritsche M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3273793 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature