Organization of the Replication-origin Region of the Bacillus subtilis Chromosome

The role of the cell envelope, especially the cell membrane, in DNA replication has been suggested in bacteria. Supporting evidence is mainly of two types. First, the bacterial chromosome was found to be associated with the cell surface at multiple sites, including regions near the replication origin and terminus as well as near replication points (Ganesan and Lederberg 1965; Sueoka and Quinn 1969; Snyder and Young 1969; Fielding and Fox 1970; Fuchs and Hanawalt 1970; Ivarie and Pene 1970; Yamaguchi et al. 1971; Yamaguchi and Yoshikawa 1973, 1975; Parker and Glaser 1974; Sueoka and Hammers 1974). Second, inhibition of initiation and/or elongation of the replication by biochemical (inhibitors) or genetic (dna mutations) means resulted in alteration of components in the cell envelope (Inoue and Pardee 1970; Sicardi et al. 1971; Gudas et al. 1976; Portalier and Worcel 1976; Harmon and Taber 1977). However, none of these associations have been chemically...