Introduction.- Coordinating duplication of genetic material with cell growth - current views and old questions.- Structural organization of cellular processes and the regulation of cell cycle -- The link between metabolism and DNA replication -- Transcriptional activation - the unsolved problem -- Activity of DnaA is inhibited by components of translation machinery -- Nucleoid-associated proteins modulate activity of the DnaA initiator -- Interaction of DnaA with acidic components of fluid cellular membrane regulates its nucleotide-bound status and binding to oriC -- Influence of DNA replication on cell structure and function -- Conclusions.