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Physical descriptions of the bacterial nucleoid at large scales, and their biological implications.

TitlePhysical descriptions of the bacterial nucleoid at large scales, and their biological implications.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsBenza, VG, Bassetti, B, Dorfman, KD, Scolari, VF, Bromek, K, Cicuta, P, Cosentino Lagomarsino, M
JournalRep Prog Phys
Volume75
Issue7
Pagination076602
Date Published2012 Jul
ISSN1361-6633
KeywordsBacterial Proteins, Chromosomes, Bacterial, Computer Simulation, Models, Chemical, Models, Molecular
Abstract

Recent experimental and theoretical approaches have attempted to quantify the physical organization (compaction and geometry) of the bacterial chromosome with its complement of proteins (the nucleoid). The genomic DNA exists in a complex and dynamic protein-rich state, which is highly organized at various length scales. This has implications for modulating (when not directly enabling) the core biological processes of replication, transcription and segregation. We overview the progress in this area, driven in the last few years by new scientific ideas and new interdisciplinary experimental techniques, ranging from high space- and time-resolution microscopy to high-throughput genomics employing sequencing to map different aspects of the nucleoid-related interactome. The aim of this review is to present the wide spectrum of experimental and theoretical findings coherently, from a physics viewpoint. In particular, we highlight the role that statistical and soft condensed matter physics play in describing this system of fundamental biological importance, specifically reviewing classic and more modern tools from the theory of polymers. We also discuss some attempts toward unifying interpretations of the current results, pointing to possible directions for future investigation.

DOI10.1088/0034-4885/75/7/076602
Alternate JournalRep Prog Phys
PubMed ID22790781

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