enome Structure
The genome of Caulobacter crescentus is structured in a circular chromosome and is comprised of 4,016,942 bp encoding for 3,767 genes. It was found that the C. crescentus genome encodes for more two-component signal transduction proteins that assist in cell cycle progression than any other bacterial genome sequenced so far. Caulobacter also uses DNA methylation as a regulatory mechanism in cell cycle progression. Caulobacter also has several genes and clusters of genes that are essential for survival in habitats with poor nutrients. Some of these genes encode for proteins involved in chemotaxis, outer membrane channel function, degradation of compounds with aromatic rings, and the breakdown of plant-derived carbon sources (list from Nierman et al. 2001). Others are involved in extracytoplasmic function sigma factors, which allow the bacterium to respond to "a wide range of environmental fluctuations