Chromosome segregation and cytokinesis in bacteria: mechanisms and regulation

Professor Jeffrey Errington is investigating the cell cycle, a pivotal process in biology, of which mechanistic details underlying many of the key events are not well understood. The ability to regulate chromosome replication, segregation and cytokinesis is one of the most fundamental processes for organisms as it is crucial for survival, fitness, reproduction and evolutionary success. Professor Errington plans to resolve the molecular details underlying these key events in bacteria, which have the advantage of relatively simple cells and genes and are therefore tractable in experimentation. A better understanding of this fundamental process in bacteria might enable scientists to interfere with essential functions in pathogenic bacteria, which could in turn inform antibiotic design.