Mechanistic studies of bacterial chromosome segregation using single-molecule microscopy

In all forms of life, DNA must be properly segregated to each daughter cell for the stable inheritance of genetic material prior to cell division. Recent advancements in fluorescence microscopy have revealed that bacterial chromosomes are highly organized and segregate with distinctive patterns in the cell. Most bacterial chromosomes and low copy number plasmids encode the ParABS system to mediate DNA segregation. The Par system is also involved in the spatial organization of many important bacterial cell functions such as cell division, motility, chemotaxis and biofilm formation. The aim of this project is to understand how the various components of the Par system are assembled and involved in chromosome segregation.

Super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized the way we view biology. It has allowed us to visualize intracellular structures with much higher resolution. We will be using the power of super-resolution imaging and single-particle tracking to visualize and monitor the spatial dynamics of bacterial chromosomes.