How do bacteria separate their two chromosomes during cell division?

Prior to cell division, bacteria face a daunting task. They must separate their two copies of genetic material in space to ensure that each daughter cell contains a complete genome after cytokinesis This requirement is so important that many bacteria have evolved redundant mechanisms to insure fidelity. We are studying this in action by tracking the motion of fluorescently-tagged chromosomes in 3D with nanometer accuracy as they are actively segregated. The movies above show the position of the origin of replication in Caulobacter crescentus over time. They show a surprising amount of dynamics that take place before, during and after the actual event of chromosome separation. We are currently taking data to tease out the different players involved in generating these motions.