TherepMutation III. Altered Structure of the ReplicatingEscherichia coliChromosome

作者：H. E. D. Lane, David T. Denhardt · 发表于：Journal of Bacteriology · 年份：1974 · DOI：10.1128/jb.120.2.805-814.1974 · 被引用次数：81 · 研究领域：DNA Repair Mechanisms、Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology、DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry

The rep gene function of Escherichia coli is essential for the replication of P2 and phiX174 double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Compared with isogenic rep(+) strains, rep mutants show the following characteristics: larger cell size, more DNA per cell, and a slightly lower DNA/mass ratio. The replicating rep chromosomes show a steeper gradient of marker frequencies and contain more replicating forks per chromosome. The nucleoid body of rep mutants sediments faster and contains more DNA. We deduce that the rep function is required for the "normal" replication of the E. coli chromosome and that in its absence the E. coli chromosome replicates in an altered manner, perhaps involving slower-moving replicating forks.