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DNA Replication during Aggregation Phase Is Essential for Myxococcus xanthus Development

Linfong Tzeng, Terri N. Ellis, and Mitchell Singer^*

Section of Microbiology and Center for Genetics and Development, The University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616

Received 10 November 2005/ Accepted 23 January 2006

Previous studies have demonstrated that fruiting body-derived Myxococcus xanthus myxospores contain two fully replicated copies of its genome, implying developmental control of chromosome replication and septation. In this study, we employ DNA replication inhibitors to determine if chromosome replication is essential to development and the exact time frame in which chromosome replication occurs within the developmental cycle. Our results show that DNA replication during the aggregation phase is essential for developmental progression, implying the existence of a checkpoint that monitors chromosome integrity at the end of the aggregation phase.

Present address: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Respiratory Biology, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Stop C2-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Rosario, C. J., Singer, M. (2007). The Myxococcus xanthus Developmental Program Can Be Delayed by Inhibition of DNA Replication. J. Bacteriol. 189: 8793-8800 [Abstract] [Full Text]