The MCM complex: (just) a replicative helicase?

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Costa ◽  
Silvia Onesti
Keyword(s):  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Replicative Helicase ◽  
Aaa Atpase ◽  
Mcm Helicase ◽  
Eukaryotic Dna ◽  
Mcm Complex ◽  
Elongation Step ◽  
Hexameric Helicases

The MCM2–MCM7 (minichromosome maintenance 2–7) complex is involved both in the initiation and the elongation step of eukaryotic DNA replication and is believed to be the replicative helicase. Whereas the mechanism of DNA unwinding at the replication fork has been extensively investigated, the role of the MCM2–MCM7 complex during initiation has not yet been characterized by biochemical studies. Here we summarize the in vivo evidence which supports a role for the MCM complex in origin melting. In addition, we present an overview of the mechanism of action of a number of AAA+ (ATPase associated with various cellular activities) initiators and hexameric helicases, which can be used in turn as models for the steps of recognition, duplex melting, loading and nucleic acid translocation of the MCM helicase.

Cellular Samurai: katanin and the severing of microtubules

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (16) ◽  
pp. 2821-2827 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Quarmby
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Aaa Atpase ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Microtubule Severing ◽  
Biochemical Studies ◽  
New Evidence

Recent biochemical studies of the AAA ATPase, katanin, provide a foundation for understanding how microtubules might be severed along their length. These in vitro studies are complemented by a series of recent reports of direct in vivo observation of microtubule breakage, which indicate that the in vitro phenomenon of catalysed microtubule severing is likely to be physiological. There is also new evidence that microtubule severing by katanin is important for the production of non-centrosomal microtubules in cells such as neurons and epithelial cells. Although it has been difficult to establish the role of katanin in mitosis, new genetic evidence indicates that a katanin-like protein, MEI-1, plays an essential role in meiosis in C. elegans. Finally, new proteins involved in the severing of axonemal microtubules have been discovered in the deflagellation system of Chlamydomonas.

scholarly journals Cdc6 ATPase activity disengages Cdc6 from the pre-replicative complex to promote DNA replication

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
FuJung Chang ◽  
Alberto Riera ◽  
Cecile Evrin ◽  
Jingchuan Sun ◽  
Huilin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
S Phase ◽  
G1 Phase ◽  
Helicase Loading ◽  
Mcm Helicase

To initiate DNA replication, cells first load an MCM helicase double hexamer at origins in a reaction requiring ORC, Cdc6, and Cdt1, also called pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) assembly. The essential mechanistic role of Cdc6 ATP hydrolysis in this reaction is still incompletely understood. Here, we show that although Cdc6 ATP hydrolysis is essential to initiate DNA replication, it is not essential for MCM loading. Using purified proteins, an ATPase-defective Cdc6 mutant ‘Cdc6-E224Q’ promoted MCM loading on DNA. Cdc6-E224Q also promoted MCM binding at origins in vivo but cells remained blocked in G1-phase. If after loading MCM, Cdc6-E224Q was degraded, cells entered an apparently normal S-phase and replicated DNA, a phenotype seen with two additional Cdc6 ATPase-defective mutants. Cdc6 ATP hydrolysis is therefore required for Cdc6 disengagement from the pre-RC after helicase loading to advance subsequent steps in helicase activation in vivo.

A Critical Role of Nuclear m6A Reader YTHDC1 in Leukemogenesis by Regulating MCM Complex-Mediated DNA Replication

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Sheng ◽  
Jiangbo Wei ◽  
Fang Yu ◽  
Huanzhou Xu ◽  
Chunjie Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Strong Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Mcm Complex ◽  
Genetic Deletion

YTHDC1 has distinct functions as a nuclear N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader in regulating RNA metabolism. Here we show that YTHDC1 is overexpressed in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and that it is required for proliferation and survival of human AML cells. Genetic deletion of Ythdc1 markedly blocks AML development and maintenance as well as self-renewal of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in vivo in mice. We find that Ythdc1 is also required for normal hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) maintenance in vivo. Notably, Ythdc1 haploinsufficiency reduces self-renewal of LSCs, but not HSPCs in vivo. YTHDC1 knockdown has a strong inhibitory effect on proliferation of primary AML cells. Mechanistically, YTHDC1 regulates leukemogenesis through MCM4, which is a critical regulator of DNA replication. Our study provides the compelling evidence to show an oncogenic role and a distinct mechanism of YTHDC1 in AML.

Structure and function of the GINS complex, a key component of the eukaryotic replisome

2010 ◽  
Vol 425 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart A. MacNeill
Keyword(s):  
Replication Fork ◽  
Biochemical Analysis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Replication Process ◽  
Replicative Helicase ◽  
Cellular Life ◽  
Mcm Helicase ◽  
And Function

High-fidelity chromosomal DNA replication is fundamental to all forms of cellular life and requires the complex interplay of a wide variety of essential and non-essential protein factors in a spatially and temporally co-ordinated manner. In eukaryotes, the GINS complex (from the Japanese go-ichi-ni-san meaning 5-1-2-3, after the four related subunits of the complex Sld5, Psf1, Psf2 and Psf3) was recently identified as a novel factor essential for both the initiation and elongation stages of the replication process. Biochemical analysis has placed GINS at the heart of the eukaryotic replication apparatus as a component of the CMG [Cdc45–MCM (minichromosome maintenance) helicase–GINS] complex that most likely serves as the replicative helicase, unwinding duplex DNA ahead of the moving replication fork. GINS homologues are found in the archaea and have been shown to interact directly with the MCM helicase and with primase, suggesting a central role for the complex in archaeal chromosome replication also. The present review summarizes current knowledge of the structure, function and evolution of the GINS complex in eukaryotes and archaea, discusses possible functions of the GINS complex and highlights recent results that point to possible regulation of GINS function in response to DNA damage.

scholarly journals Minichromosome Maintenance Proteins Cooperate with LANA during the G1/S Phase of the Cell Cycle To Support Viral DNA Replication

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prerna Dabral ◽  
Timsy Uppal ◽  
Cyprian C. Rossetto ◽  
Subhash C. Verma
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Dna Replication ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Viral Origin ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Mcm Complex ◽  
Cellular Replication ◽  
Cellular Dna

ABSTRACTLatency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) is essential for maintaining the viral genome by regulating replication and segregation of the viral episomes. The virus maintains 50 to 100 episomal copies during latency and replicates in synchrony with the cellular DNA of the infected cells. Since virus lacks its own replication machinery, it utilizes the cellular proteins for replication and maintenance, and LANA has been shown to make many of these proteins available for replication by directly recruiting them to the viral origin of replication within the terminal repeat (TR) region. Our studies identified members of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex as potential LANA-interacting proteins. Here, we show that LANA specifically interacts with the components of the MCM complex, primarily during the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. MCM3 and -4 of the MCM complex specifically bound to the amino-terminal domain, while MCM6 bound to both the amino- and carboxyl-terminal domains of LANA. The MCM binding region in the N-terminal domain mapped to the chromatin binding domain (CBD). LANA with point mutations in the carboxyl-terminal domain identified an MCM6 binding domain, and overexpression of that domain (amino acids [aa] 1100 to 1150) abolished TR replication. Introduction of a peptide encompassing the LANA aa 1104 to 1123 reduced MCM6 association with LANA and TR replication. Moreover, a recombinant Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) expressing LANA with a deletion of aa 1100 to 1150 (BAC16Δ1100–1150, where BAC is bacmid) showed reduced replication and persistence of viral genome copies compared to levels with the wild-type BAC16. Additionally, the role of MCMs in viral replication was confirmed by depleting MCMs and assaying transient and long-term maintenance of the viral episomes. The recruitment of MCMs to the replication origins through LANA was demonstrated through chromatin immunoprecipitation and isolation of proteins on nascent replicated DNA (iPOND). These data clearly show the role of MCMs in latent DNA replication and the potential for targeting the C-terminal domain of LANA to block viral persistence.IMPORTANCELANA-mediated latent DNA replication is essential for efficient maintenance of KSHV episomes in the host. During latency, virus relies on the host cellular machinery for replication, which occurs in synchrony with the cellular DNA. LANA interacts with the components of multiple cellular pathways, including cellular replication machinery, and recruits them to the viral origin for DNA replication. In this study, we characterize the interactions between LANA and minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins, members of the cellular replication complex. We demonstrated a cell cycle-dependent interaction between LANA and MCMs and determined their importance for viral genome replication and maintenance through biochemical assays. In addition, we mapped a 50-amino acid region in LANA which was capable of abrogating the association of MCM6 with LANA and blocking DNA replication. We also detected LANA along with MCMs at the replication forks using a novel approach, isolation of proteins on nascent DNA (iPOND).

scholarly journals The Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus Cdc6-2 Protein, the Putative Helicase Loader, Dissociates the Minichromosome Maintenance Helicase

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (11) ◽  
pp. 4091-4094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Ho Shin ◽  
Gun Young Heo ◽  
Zvi Kelman
Keyword(s):  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Mcm Helicase ◽  
Protein Functions ◽  
Mcm Complex ◽  
Methanothermobacter Thermautotrophicus

ABSTRACT The Cdc6-1 and -2 proteins from the archaeon Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus were previously shown to bind the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase. It is shown here that Cdc6-2 protein dissociates the MCM complex. This observation supports the hypothesis that the Cdc6-2 protein functions as a helicase loader.

scholarly journals Complete In Vitro Reconstitution of Adeno-Associated Virus DNA Replication Requires the Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Proteins

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 1458-1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Nash ◽  
Weijun Chen ◽  
Nicholas Muzyczka
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Productive Infection ◽  
Nuclear Antigen ◽  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Rep Protein ◽  
Mcm Complex ◽  
Factor C

ABSTRACT Adeno-associated virus (AAV) replicates its DNA exclusively by a leading-strand DNA replication mechanism and requires coinfection with a helper virus, such as adenovirus, to achieve a productive infection. In previous work, we described an in vitro AAV replication assay that required the AAV terminal repeats (the origins for DNA replication), the AAV Rep protein (the origin binding protein), and an adenovirus-infected crude extract. Fractionation of these crude extracts identified replication factor C (RFC), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and polymerase δ as cellular enzymes that were essential for AAV DNA replication in vitro. Here we identify the remaining factor that is necessary as the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex, a cellular helicase complex that is believed to be the replicative helicase for eukaryotic chromosomes. Thus, polymerase δ, RFC, PCNA, and the MCM complex, along with the virally encoded Rep protein, constitute the minimal protein complexes required to reconstitute efficient AAV DNA replication in vitro. Interfering RNAs targeted to MCM and polymerase δ inhibited AAV DNA replication in vivo, suggesting that one or more components of the MCM complex and polymerase δ play an essential role in AAV DNA replication in vivo as well as in vitro. Our reconstituted in vitro DNA replication system is consistent with the current genetic information about AAV DNA replication. The use of highly conserved cellular replication enzymes may explain why AAV is capable of productive infection in a wide variety of species with several different families of helper viruses.

scholarly journals Role of Noncoding RNAs in the Regulation of P-TEFb Availability and Enzymatic Activity

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Giuliana Napolitano ◽  
Luigi Lania ◽  
Barbara Majello
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Cardiac Differentiation ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Panoramic View ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Elongation Step

P-TEFb is a transcriptional factor that specifically regulates the elongation step of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription and its activity strictly required for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and during cardiac differentiation. P-TEFb role has emerged as a crucial regulator of transcription elongation and its activity found finely tunedin vivoat transcriptional level as well as posttranscriptionally by dynamic association with different multisubunit molecular particles. Both physiological and pathological cellular signals rapidly converge on P-TEFb regulation by modifying expression and activity of the complex to allow cells to properly respond to different stimuli. In this review we will give a panoramic view on P-TEFb regulation by noncoding RNAs in both physiological and pathological conditions.

scholarly journals Essential Role of MCM Proteins in Premeiotic DNA Replication

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karola Lindner ◽  
Juraj Gregán ◽  
Stuart Montgomery ◽  
Stephen E. Kearsey
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Critical Event ◽  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Cell Cycles ◽  
Eukaryotic Dna ◽  
Mcm Proteins ◽  
Meiotic Cycle

A critical event in eukaryotic DNA replication involves association of minichromosome maintenance (MCM2–7) proteins with origins, to form prereplicative complexes (pre-RCs) that are competent for initiation. The ability of mutants defective in MCM2–7 function to complete meiosis had suggested that pre-RC components could be irrelevant to premeiotic S phase. We show here that MCM2–7 proteins bind to chromatin in fission yeast cells preparing for meiosis and during premeiotic S phase in a manner suggesting they in fact are required for DNA replication in the meiotic cycle. This is confirmed by analysis of a degron mcm4 mutant, which cannot carry out premeiotic DNA replication. Later in meiosis, Mcm4 chromatin association is blocked between meiotic nuclear divisions, presumably accounting for the absence of a second round of DNA replication. Together, these results emphasize similarity between replication mechanisms in mitotic and meiotic cell cycles.

scholarly journals MCM Paradox: Abundance of Eukaryotic Replicative Helicases and Genomic Integrity

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitali Das ◽  
Sunita Singh ◽  
Satyajit Pradhan ◽  
Gopeshwar Narayan
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Genomic Integrity ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Minichromosome Maintenance ◽  
Replicative Helicase ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Eukaryotic Dna ◽  
Mcm Proteins ◽  
Insight Into

As a crucial component of DNA replication licensing system, minichromosome maintenance (MCM) 2–7 complex acts as the eukaryotic DNA replicative helicase. The six related MCM proteins form a heterohexamer and bind with ORC, CDC6, and Cdt1 to form the prereplication complex. Although the MCMs are well known as replicative helicases, their overabundance and distribution patterns on chromatin present a paradox called the “MCM paradox.” Several approaches had been taken to solve the MCM paradox and describe the purpose of excess MCMs distributed beyond the replication origins. Alternative functions of these MCMs rather than a helicase had also been proposed. This review focuses on several models and concepts generated to solve the MCM paradox coinciding with their helicase function and provides insight into the concept that excess MCMs are meant for licensing dormant origins as a backup during replication stress. Finally, we extend our view towards the effect of alteration of MCM level. Though an excess MCM constituent is needed for normal cells to withstand stress, there must be a delineation of the threshold level in normal and malignant cells. This review also outlooks the future prospects to better understand the MCM biology.

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