Systematic localisation of proteins fused to the green fluorescent protein in Bacillus subtilis: identification of new proteins at the DNA replication factory.

Construction and microscopic imaging of protein fusions to green fluorescent protein (GFP) have revolutionised our understanding of bacterial structure and function. We have undertaken a systematic study of the localisation of over 100 Bacillus subtilis proteins, following the development of high-throughput construction and analysis procedures. We focused on proteins linked in various ways to the DNA replication machinery, as well as on proteins exemplifying a range of other cellular functions and structures. The results validate the approach as a way of obtaining systematic protein localisation information. They also provide a range of novel biological insights, particularly through the identification of a number of proteins not previously known to be associated with the DNA replication factory.