A dicentric bacterial chromosome requires XerC/D site-specific recombinases for resolution

Unlike eukaryotes and archaea, which have multiple replication origins on their chromosomes, bacterial chromosomes usually contain a single replication origin.(1) Here, we discovered a dicentric bacterial chromosome with two replication origins, which has resulted from the fusion of the circular and linear chromosomes in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The fused chromosome is well tolerated, stably maintained, and retains similar subcellular organization and genome-wide DNA interactions found for the bipartite chromosomes. Strikingly, the two replication origins and their partitioning systems are both functional and necessary for cell survival. Finally, we discovered that the site-specific recombinases XerC and XerD(2) are essential in cells harboring the fused chromosome but not in cells with bipartite chromosomes. Analysis of actively dividing cells suggests a model in which XerC/D are required to recombine the sister fusion chromosomes when the two centromeres on the same chromosome are segregated to opposite cell poles. Thus, faithful segregation of dicentric chromosomes in bacteria can occur because of site-specific recombination between the sister chromatids during chromosome partitioning. Our study provides a natural comparative platform to examine a bacterial chromosome with multiple origins and a possible explanation for the fundamental difference in bacterial genome architecture relative to eukaryotes and archaea.(1)

Automated summary

Unlike eukaryotes and archaea, bacterial chromosomes usually have a single replication origin. However, a dicentric bacterial chromosome with two replication origins was discovered in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and both replication origins and their partitioning systems are essential for cell survival.