Cell cycle regulation in archaea

Chromosome segregation is a vital process for all organisms. The mechanisms underpinning chromosomal partitioning in the archaeal domain remain elusive. Our group has identified the first chromosome segregation system in thermophilic archaea. Sulfolobus solfataricus partition system consists of SegA, an orthologue of bacterial Walker-type ParA proteins; SegB, an archaea-specific DNA binding protein and a cis-acting DNA region. ChIP-seq experiments disclosed multiple SegB binding sites scattered over the chromosome and revealed a novel DNA binding motif. Overall design: Chromatin-immunoprecipitation with deep sequencing experiments (ChIP-seq) were performed on exponential-growing Sulfolobus Solfataricus (see the supplementary Materials and Methods for the exact treatment that were applied).