ATP-dependent serine protease that mediates the selective degradation of mutant and abnormal proteins as well as certain short-lived regulatory proteins. Required for cellular homeostasis and for survival from DNA damage and developmental changes induced by stress. Degrades polypeptides processively to yield small peptide fragments that are 5 to 10 amino acids long. Binds to DNA in a double-stranded, site-specific manner (By similarity). CcrM is an important target of the Lon protease pathway in C.crescentus. Hydrolysis of proteins in presence of ATP. Homohexamer. Organized in a ring with a central cavity. Constitutively expressed at a constant level throughout the cell cycle (at protein level) (PubMed:8666236). By heat shock. Cells grow more slowly, cells stall in predivisional stage, about half eventually divide. Abnormal inititation of extra rounds of DNA replication. CcrM methyltransferase is present at all stages of the cell cycle, at least partially responsible for the above phenotypes. Belongs to the peptidase S16 family.