Analysis of the terminus region of the Caulobacter crescentus chromosome and identification of the dif site.

The terminus region of the Caulobacter crescentus chromosome and the dif chromosome dimer resolution site were characterized. The Caulobacter genome contains skewed sequences that abruptly switch strands at dif and may have roles in chromosome maintenance and segregation. Absence of dif or the XerCD recombinase results in a chromosome segregation defect. The Caulobacter terminus region is unusual, since it contains many essential or highly expressed genes.