Abstract
Replicating and catenated DNA molecules of colicin factor E1 that were isolated from minicells were observed by electron microscopy. Two new replicating structures that have been found include: molecules that contain two untwisted replicated branches of the same length and a twisted unreplicated branch, and a twisted circular molecule with a long tail. Other molecular forms identified include circular dimers, three types of catenated dimers (open-open, open-twisted, and twisted-twisted), catenated dimers in which one of the linked molecules is replicating, catenated trimers, and a tetamer.