FIG 2.

Binding of tDNA and acquisition of DNase I (DNase) resistance. Competent cells expressing CFP (BD5810) or YFP (BD6011) from the comG promoter were incubated separately with rDNA, and samples were taken after 2 (A) and 30 (B) min of incubation. The CFP samples were treated with DNase and then combined with YFP samples from the same time points after removing the DNase. In panels A and B, images are presented with superimposed rhodamine, CFP, YFP, and phase-contrast channels as well as one showing only the rhodamine channel. Cells associated with rDNA are indicated by arrows. The circled cell in panel A was imaged by 3D deconvolution and volume reconstructed, and views produced by successive 90° rotations are shown in panel C. In panel D, volume-reconstructed images are shown for the single cyan (with DNase) and yellow (no DNase) cells, circled in panel B. Panel E contains a 3D-deconvolved optical slice from the center of a Z-stack, showing of a group of cells after DNase treatment.