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Persistent super-diffusive motion of Escherichia coli chromosomal loci

Author

Listed:
  • Avelino Javer

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge)

  • Nathan J. Kuwada

    (Box 351560, University of Washington)

  • Zhicheng Long

    (University of Minnesota—Twin Cities)

  • Vincenzo G. Benza

    (Università dell’Insubria)

  • Kevin D. Dorfman

    (University of Minnesota—Twin Cities)

  • Paul A. Wiggins

    (Box 351560, University of Washington)

  • Pietro Cicuta

    (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge)

  • Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino

    (University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
    Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, UMR 7238, UPMC, University of Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités
    CNRS, UMR 7238)

Abstract

The physical nature of the bacterial chromosome has important implications for its function. Using high-resolution dynamic tracking, we observe the existence of rare but ubiquitous ‘rapid movements’ of chromosomal loci exhibiting near-ballistic dynamics. This suggests that these movements are either driven by an active machinery or part of stress-relaxation mechanisms. Comparison with a null physical model for subdiffusive chromosomal dynamics shows that rapid movements are excursions from a basal subdiffusive dynamics, likely due to driven and/or stress-relaxation motion. Additionally, rapid movements are in some cases coupled with known transitions of chromosomal segregation. They do not co-occur strictly with replication, their frequency varies with growth condition and chromosomal coordinate, and they show a preference for longitudinal motion. These findings support an emerging picture of the bacterial chromosome as off-equilibrium active matter and help developing a correct physical model of its in vivo dynamic structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Avelino Javer & Nathan J. Kuwada & Zhicheng Long & Vincenzo G. Benza & Kevin D. Dorfman & Paul A. Wiggins & Pietro Cicuta & Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino, 2014. "Persistent super-diffusive motion of Escherichia coli chromosomal loci," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4854
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4854
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    Cited by:

    1. Silvia Vitali & Iva Budimir & Claudio Runfola & Gastone Castellani, 2019. "The Role of the Central Limit Theorem in the Heterogeneous Ensemble of Brownian Particles Approach," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-9, November.
    2. Ofir Shukron & David Holcman, 2017. "Transient chromatin properties revealed by polymer models and stochastic simulations constructed from Chromosomal Capture data," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, April.

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