Asymmetric division yields progeny cells with distinct modes of regulating cell cycle-dependent chromosome methylation

Significance The temporal control of DNA methylation by the CcrM DNA methyltransferase mediates cell cycle progression in the asymmetrically dividing bacterium Caulobacter crescentus . Limiting the presence of CcrM to a specific time in the cell cycle is achieved through temporally controlled transcription and Lon-mediated proteolysis. We discovered that a chromosomal DNA-based platform stimulates CcrM proteolysis by Lon. Upon cell division,...