Implication of gene distribution in the bacterial chromosome for the bacterial cell factory

As bacterial genome sequences accumulate, more and more pieces of data sugg est that there is a significant correlation between the distribution of gen es along the chromosome and the physical architecture of the cell, suggesti ng that the map of the cell is in the chromosome. Considering sequences and experimental data indicative of cell compartmentalisation, mRNA folding an d turnover, as well as known structural features of protein and membrane co mplexes,we show that preliminary in silico analysis of whole genome sequenc es strongly substantiates this hypothesis. If there is a correlation betwee n the genome sequence and the cell architecture, it must derive from some s election pressure in the organisms growing in the wild. As a consequence, t he underlying constraints should be optimised in genetically modified organ isms if one is to expect high product yields. Consequences in terms of gene expression for biotechnology are straightforward: knocking genes out and i n genomes should not be randomly performed, but should follow the rules of chromosome organisation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .