Abstract
In bacteria, the chromosome is folded into a structure called the
nucleoid. This compaction must facilitate and maintain key biological
processes such as gene expression and DNA transactions (replication,
recombination, repair, segregation). Chromosome and chromatin
3D-organization in bacteria has been a puzzle for decades. Chromosome
conformation capture coupled to deep sequencing (HiC) in combination
with other ‘omics’ approaches has allowed dissection of the structural
layers that shape bacterial chromosome organization, from DNA topology
to global chromosome architecture. Here we review the latest findings in
the field and discuss the main features of bacterial genome folding.