Developmental stage influences chromosome segregation patterns and arrangement in the extremely polyploid, giant bacterium Epulopiscium sp. type B

What is it about?

Many large bacteria have the task of managing multiple chromosome copies. We examined distribution of chromosomes within the highly polyploid bacterium Epulopiscium sp. type B. These giants appear to use many of the same mechanisms as other bacteria to manage their chromosomes. The orientation of individual chromosomes in the cell, however, appears relaxed in Epulopiscium cells when compared to other model bacteria. This suggests that the random orientation of chromosomes does not hamper reproductive success of Epulopiscium, as it would in smaller cells with more limited genomic resources.

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