Membrane binding and release of Bacillus subtilis DNA as a function of the cell cycle.

The presence of origin-region DNA in preparations containing bacterial cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane is well established, but little is known about the relationship between this association and events of the cell cycle. We have observed, during renewed growth of stationary-phase cultures of Bacillus subtilis, an association of DNA, including newly synthesized regions, with a specific region of the plasma membrane. Attachment was transitory, occurring once per replication cycle, and was prevented by inhibitors of cell wall synthesis.