The bacterial replication initiator DnaA.: DnaA and oriC, the bacterial mode to initiate DNA replication

The initiation of replication is the central event in the bacterial cell cycle. Cells control the rate of DNA synthesis by modulating the frequency with which new chains are initiated, like all macromolecular synthesis. The end of the replication cycle provides a checkpoint that must be executed for cell division to occur. This review summarizes recent insight into the biochemistry, genetics and control of the initiation of replication in bacteria, and the central role of the initiator protein DnaA. (C) 2002 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.