Prokaryotic DNA in nucleoid structure.

Recent studies of the structure of the bacterial nucleoid are reviewed. In the past 4 to 5 years results of electron microscopic and physical-chemical investigations of the isolated bacterial nucleoids have greatly advanced our understanding of this comparatively simple chromosome. Evidence for both long-range and short-range conformational organization of the packaged DNA has emerged, and preliminary characterization of the molecular interactions organizing this structure has been accomplished.