Cross talk between DNA replication and LPS biosynthesis during cell growth

"The cell envelope in Gram-negative bacteria is comprised of an inner membrane, peptidoglycan sacculus and outer membrane.
During division, the bacterium's chromosome/s must be replicate to ensure each daughter cell inherits the complete genome. Replication of the E. coli chromosome occurs when the bacterium reaches a critical mass. After replication sister chromosomes must decatenate and localise to opposite poles of the cells before septum formation and sister separation.
Initiation requires localised DNA unwinding at oriC. This is facilitated by an initiation complex formed of DnaA-ATP, DiaA and IHF. Once localised winding has occurred, DiaA dissociates from DnaA, allowing the DNA helicase DnaB to bind for further bidirectional unwinding and subsequent replication. Regulation of chromosomal replication is tightly controlled at the initiation step to ensure initiation occurs only once per oriC within each cell cycle. This is achieved through positive and negative regulatory systems acting on DnaA and oriC.
To coordinate cellular growth, biogenesis of the bacterial cell envelope is closely coordinated with cytoplasmic biosynthetic processes including DNA replication. However, the regulatory processes underpinning this critical coordination are poorly understood. This project will utilise structural biology, biochemistry and high-throughput genetic approaches to determine how initiation of DNA replication is coordinated with cell envelope synthesis."