| Abstract: | Changes in the structure of the Escherichia coli nucleoid during heat damage and repair were followed by sedimentation analysis in neutral sucrose gradients. Heating at 50 degrees C results first in a decrease in the sedimentation coefficient of the isolated nucleoid. Increasing the heating time, a subsequent increase in sedimentation coefficient is observed. After a heat shock (i.e. 4 min at 50 degrees C), a short incubation at 25 degrees C (i.e. 5 min) allows the nucleoid to repair and return to the sedimentation coefficient of control unheated nucleoids. The nucleoids heated at 50 degrees C for longer periods and incubated afterwards at 25 degrees C demonstrate a different pattern of structural repair. They associate with protein in the first stage of the repair period. |
