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Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 1991 September; 55(3): 459-475

Control of cyclic chromosome replication in Escherichia coli.

Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson 75083.

SUMMARY

The biochemical basis for cyclic initiation of bacterial chromosome replication is reviewed to define the processes involved and to focus on the putative oscillator mechanism which generates the replication clock. The properties required for a functional oscillator are defined, and their implications are discussed. We show that positive control models, but not negative ones, can explain cyclic initiation. In particular, the widely accepted idea that DnaA protein controls the timing of initiation is examined in detail. Our analysis indicates that DnaA protein is not involved in the oscillator mechanism. We conclude that the generations of a single leading to cyclic initiation is separate from the initiation process itself and propose a heuristic model to focus attention on possible oscillator mechanisms.

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