Bacterial chromosomal segregation

All cellular life depends on the accurate duplication and partitioning of the genome. It has become clear in recent years that the chromosomes of many bacterial species show a well-defined arrangement, and their layout, integrity and segregation is supported by a variety of conserved proteins. The architecture of the chromosome also has a large impact on global transcription, and proteins involved in the topology of the DNA play major roles in chromosome segregation and compaction. In this special issue, the molecular biological principles of these fundamental processes are described in several model and non-model bacteria. Providing an in-depth compendium of our current knowledge of chromosome dynamics and arrangement in bacteria and archaea, this publication is a must-read for any researcher studying or teaching bacterial genetics or physiology.