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Biochemical characterization and visualization of plasma membrane-DNA-protein complexes fromBacillus subtilis

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Abstract

Subcellular fractions containing plasma membranes with bound DNA and associated proteins were isolated from two different cultures ofBacillus subtilis 168 growing exponentially at different rates. Differences in the contents of individual proteins between the dissociated complexes, established electrophoretically, can be explained by dynamic binding of the proteins to DNA, resulting in a control of DNA replication. Electron microphotographs of isolated complexes display, in addition to unit membranes, associated filamentous structures in different arrangement. Patterns obtained after treating the complexes with nucleases suggest a polydeoxyribonucleotide character of the filamentous structures.

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Hochmannová, J., Ludvík, J. Biochemical characterization and visualization of plasma membrane-DNA-protein complexes fromBacillus subtilis . Folia Microbiol 21, 117–124 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02876978

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