The physical map of the whole E. coli chromosome: application of a new strategy for rapid analysis and sorting of a large genomic library.

Thirty-four hundred lambda phage clones containing segments of the E. coli chromosome were isolated and used to construct a 4700 kb long integrated restriction map for eight six-base-recognizing enzymes by a rapid mass-analysis method. Our strategy was to measure the sizes of partial restriction enzyme digests by hybridization with a vector probe in a manner analogous to nucleotide sequencing. The data were sorted into groups by a computer program and the boundary clones were further correlated with each other using a mass hybridization method. These clones can be exploited for the isolation of any desired E. coli genes if their map positions are known. Also, the strategy is applicable to analyses of the genomes of other organisms.