GcrA is a master cell cycle regulator that, together with CtrA (see Pfam:PF00072 and Pfam:PF00486), is involved in controlling cell cycle progression and asymmetric polar morphogenesis [1]. During this process, there are temporal and spatial variations in the concentrations of GcrA and CtrA. The variation in concentration produces time and space dependent transcriptional regulation of modular functions that implement cell-cycle processes [1]. More specifically, GcrA acts as an activator of components of the replisome and the segregation machinery [1].

1: Oscillating global regulators control the genetic circuit driving a bacterial cell cycle. Holtzendorff J, Hung D, Brende P, Reisenauer A, Viollier PH, McAdams HH, Shapiro L; Science 2004;304:983-987. PMID:15087506