Arrangement and rearrangement of the bacterial chromosome : (chromosome rearrangements, transposable elements)
Abstract
Several lines of evidence suggest that the arrangement of genes in the bacterial chromosome may have selective importance. To investigate the significance of chromosomal gene order and the effect of position on gene expression, we have developed ways of constructing and analyzing large chromosomal rearrangements. These rearrangements include translocations, duplications, and inversions. Several of these rearrangements have deleterious effects on cell growth which are not due to disruption of a gene. Preliminary results suggest that the need to maintain appropriate dosage of particular chromosomal regions may be an important selective force for conservation of gene order. It is not yet clear whether a particular genome arrangement is essential for folding of the bacterial chromosome or expression of particular bacterial genes.