Functional mapping of the E. coli translational machinery using single‐molecule tracking

What is it about?

Superresolution single-molecule fluorescence microscopy quantitatively characterizes the spatial distribution of the chromosomal DNA and of ribosomes in live E. coli cells in fast and slow growth conditions. In both cases, we find strong segregation of the chromosome and translating ribosomes. This indicates that in E. coli, ribosomal subunits must circulate between the nucleoid and ribosome-rich regions of space. In sharp contrast, in slow-growing C. crescentus the DNA and ribosomes are evidently thoroughly mixed.

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