My research interests include the mechanism by which the bacterial chromosome is replicated, how replication is controlled, and how replication is integrated with cell division. Specifically, we study components of the Escherichia coli replicative polymerase, DNA polymerase III, the specific functions of some of the subunits of this ten-protein complex, and how the genes which encode these subunits are expressed and regulated. Also under study is the mechanism by which a critical activator protein initiates replication at the unique replication origin once and only once in each cell cycle and always at the same time in the cell cycle. E. coli was chosen as a model for replication in higher organisms because the mechanisms are thought to be very similar, but work with E coli provides the advantage of superior technology and genetic analysis.

We are interested also in the structure and developmental biology of long, ribbon-like appendages attached to Clostridium spores.