FIG 7.

Coordinated distribution of plasmid and chromosomal DNA in protein-producing B. megaterium. Different stages of plasmid and nucleoid positioning during the cell division of B. megaterium carrying pKMMBm2 were visualized. (A) Plasmid-XylR-mCherry complexes. (B) The nucleoid visualized via DAPI staining. (C) Overlay of both images with the inclusion of the bright-field image. (Top) Before cell division, the nucleoid was localized in the central part of the cell, excluding the poles (arrows), while XylR-mCherry was mainly distributed all over the cell. (Center) During cell division, the plasmid-XylR-mCherry complexes were localized at the old cell poles (arrows), while the nucleoid was segregated near the new pole. (Bottom) This process led to bacterial chains, with terminal cells containing large amounts of XylR-plasmid complexes (arrows).