Peter L. Graumann
The Bacillus subtilis chromosome with its 2 mm contour length is compacted into a 1 µm large nucleoid, and sister chromosomes are separated into opposite cell poles during ongoing replication through an active intracellular machinery. The machinery consists of several elements that have a defined subcelluar localization, and appear to work hand in hand. Replication occurs in the centrally located replication apparatus that optimally positions duplicated chromosome regions to be moved towards opposite cell poles, through an as yet unknown motor that may involve bacterial actin-like filaments. Separated regions appear to be compacted within each cell half by the SMC condensation complex, which forms subcellular assemblies within each cell half. Dedicated recombination enzymes, topoisomerases and a DNA pump ensure complete separation of occurring chromosome dimers, chromosome termini that are intertwined or chromosomes that may be trapped within the division septum, respectively.
Read more ...   Chromosome Segregation in Bacillus

Other publications by Peter L. Graumann
El-Sharoud WM, Graumann PL
Cold shock proteins aid coupling of transcription and translation in bacteria.
Sci Prog. 2007;90(Pt 1):15-27.

Greenwald J, Hoegy F, Nader M, Journet L, Mislin GL, Graumann PL, Schalk IJ
Real time fluorescent resonance energy transfer visualization of ferric pyoverdine uptake in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A role for ferrous iron.
J Biol Chem. 2007 Feb 2;282(5):2987-95.

Defeu Soufo HJ, Graumann PL
Dynamic localization and interaction with other Bacillus subtilis actin-like proteins are important for the function of MreB.
Mol Microbiol. 2006 Dec;62(5):1340-56.

Graumann PL
Different genetic programmes within identical bacteria under identical conditions: the phenomenon of bistability greatly modifies our view on bacterial populations.
Mol Microbiol. 2006 Aug;61(3):560-3.