Partition complex at parS. Modified from Bouet and Funnell (20). The integration host factor, IHF (182), binds centrally within parS and introduces a strong bend. ParB is able to coordinately contact both conserved hexamer (grey boxes) and heptamer (black boxes) sequences, located in both arms of parS. ParA, complexed with ATP then joins this core complex via interactions with ParB. For further details see text.