Lucy Shapiro, Ph.D.
Professor of Developmental Biology,
Director of the Beckman Center for
Molecular & Genetic Medicine
Stanford University, School of Medicine

Abstract
The cell cycle control logic in Caulobacter drives an integrated system that operates in time and space. Oscillating levels of a small number of temporally-controlled master regulators enable multiple cell cycle functions. Cell cycle regulation is, to a striking degree, a whole cell phenomenon with transcriptional circuitry interwoven with the 3-D deployment of phospho-signaling proteins and proteases. The phospho-signaling system monitors the topology of the cell and is central to establishing asymmetric cell division. The overall regulatory ‘wiring diagram’ incorporates changes in DNA methylation state that enhance system robustness.