ИСТИНА

Bacterial genomic DNA interacts with nucleoid associated proteins (NAPs) and is located in a highly condensed and functional organized form in the nucleoid of the cell. The structure of the bacterial nucleoid is still awaiting its determination in high resolution. However, recent intensive research showed that condensed DNA in the bacterial nucleoid has a complex, hierarchically organized structure. Such architecture may only exist as a result of dynamic structural rearrangements, which characterize actively growing bacteria. Changes in environmental conditions are perceived by bacteria as stress. In the stationary phase caused by nutrient depletion, energy production processes become inefficient. Bacteria in the stationary phase use energy-independent mechanism for maintaining an order to protect the DNA: the creation of stable structures, like those in inanimate nature. Cells develop into dormant forms that differ significantly in structural organization from growing cells.