Replication-Transcription Conflicts: A Perpetual War on the Chromosome.

DNA replication and transcription occur in all living cells across all domains of life. Both essential processes occur simultaneously on the same template, leading to conflicts between the macromolecular machines that perform these functions. Numerous studies over the past few decades demonstrate that this is an inevitable problem in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Pathogenic bacteria experience pervasive RNA polymerase backtracking during infection.

Eukaryotic hosts have defense mechanisms that may disrupt molecular transactions along the pathogen's chromosome through excessive DNA damage. Given that DNA damage stalls RNA polymerase (RNAP) thereby increasing mutagenesis, investigating how host defense mechanisms impact the movement of the transcription machinery on the pathogen chromosome is crucial. Using a new methodology we developed, we elucidated the dynamics of RNAP movement and association with the chromosome in the pathogenic bacterium during infection.

Pathogenic bacteria experience pervasive RNA polymerase backtracking during infection.

Pathogenic bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts are in a constant arms race. Hosts have numerous defense mechanisms at their disposal that not only challenge the bacterial invaders, but have the potential to disrupt molecular transactions along the bacterial chromosome. However, it is unclear how the host impacts association of proteins with the bacterial chromosome at the molecular level during infection.