In E. coli, damage to DNA induces the expression of a set of genes known as the SOS response. The SOS response has two parts: one includes genes that repair damage to DNA and the other coordinates DNA replication and septation to prevent untimely cell division. SfiA is the SOS gene that inhibits cell division and it does so by binding to FtsZ which is required for septum formation. It is this septation that ultimately leads to division of the E.coli bacteria into two cells. SfiA is released from FtsZ only when DNA damage is repaired. However, another pathway exists to coordinate DNA replication and cell division when sfiA is not operative, called the sfi-independent pathway, a sort of back-up plan. We found that the sfi-independent pathway is suppressed by lexA mutations, suggesting that derepression of LexA is necessary for sfi-independent induction.