E coli replication and transcription

[simpleton]

Can E coli replicate and transcribe at the same time (just like the simultaneous transcription and translation)??

[JackBean]

Taking into account, that it's replicating almost all the time, than probably yes

[akki313]

I don't think so.. because replication occur at every S phase of interphase.. but transcription can only take place when there is requirement for the product that gene codes.
Hence replication and transcription are not continuous..

[Darby]

Also, I'm not sure that bacterial chromosomes are "packaged" (wrapped up into tight bundles) for replication the way that eukaryote chromosomes are. That packaging stops chromosomes from getting tangled while they're being pulled around (and there are only 2 chromosomes in a replicating bacterium), but it also prevents access for transcription during replication.

[JackBean]

OK, I don't understand Darby's argument (and I actually don't even know, whether is he saying yes or no ), but akki is not true. As I said, replication in E.coli occurs all the time, there are even multiforked chromosomes and I think there is nothing like S phase in bacteria, is it?
Also, transcription (in eukaryota, but in prokaryota it would be the same) takes places whole cell cycle. Although particular genes are not transcribed whole cell cycle, in each phase there are needed some proteins and thus the transcription runs all the time (although not on the same genes;)

[xiaolong88]

Yes^^

[simpleton]

agree with jackbean that bacteria does not have the programmed life cycle (G1, S, G2 and mitosis phases). as long as the conditions are right, they go ahead to replicate. unlike eukaryotes which requires unchecking of different stages of life cycle.

The cell cycle of prokaryotes is simple and fast. Replication of the single chromosome begins at a particular DNA sequence, the replication origin, which is anchored to the cell membrane. Once DNA replication is complete, assembly of new membrane and cell wall forms a septum, which eventually divides the cell in two. (adapted from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/b ... &part=A213)