scholarly journals PCNA Loaders and Unloaders—One Ring That Rules Them All

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1812
Author(s):  
Matan Arbel ◽  
Karan Choudhary ◽  
Ofri Tfilin ◽  
Martin Kupiec

During each cell duplication, the entirety of the genomic DNA in every cell must be accurately and quickly copied. Given the short time available for the chore, the requirement of many proteins, and the daunting amount of DNA present, DNA replication poses a serious challenge to the cell. A high level of coordination between polymerases and other DNA and chromatin-interacting proteins is vital to complete this task. One of the most important proteins for maintaining such coordination is PCNA. PCNA is a multitasking protein that forms a homotrimeric ring that encircles the DNA. It serves as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases and acts as a landing platform for different proteins interacting with DNA and chromatin. Therefore, PCNA is a signaling hub that influences the rate and accuracy of DNA replication, regulates DNA damage repair, controls chromatin formation during the replication, and the proper segregation of the sister chromatids. With so many essential roles, PCNA recruitment and turnover on the chromatin is of utmost importance. Three different, conserved protein complexes are in charge of loading/unloading PCNA onto DNA. Replication factor C (RFC) is the canonical complex in charge of loading PCNA during the S-phase. The Ctf18 and Elg1 (ATAD5 in mammalian) proteins form complexes similar to RFC, with particular functions in the cell’s nucleus. Here we summarize our current knowledge about the roles of these important factors in yeast and mammals.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Bender ◽  
Eulália Maria Lima Da Silva ◽  
Jingrong Chen ◽  
Annelise Poss ◽  
Lauren Gawey ◽  
...  

AbstractThe tethering together of sister chromatids by the cohesin complex ensures their accurate alignment and segregation during cell division. In vertebrates, the establishment of cohesion between sister chromatids requires the activity of the ESCO2 acetyltransferase, which modifies the Smc3 subunit of cohesin. It was shown recently that ESCO2 promotes cohesion through interaction with the MCM replicative helicase. However, ESCO2 does not significantly colocalize with the MCM helicase, suggesting there may be additional interactions that are important for ESCO2 function. Here we show that ESCO2 is recruited to replication factories, the sites of DNA replication. We show that ESCO2 contains multiple conserved PCNA-interaction motifs in its N-terminus, and that each of these motifs are essential to ESCO2’s ability to establish sister chromatid cohesion. We propose that multiple PCNA interaction motifs embedded in a largely flexible and disordered region of the protein underlie the ability of ESCO2 to establish cohesion between sister chromatids precisely as they are born during DNA replication.SummaryCohesin modification by the ESCO2 acetyltransferase is required for cohesion between sister chromatids. Here we identify multiple motifs in ESCO2 that mediate its interaction with the replication processivity factor PCNA, and show that their mutation abrogates the ability of ESCO2 to ensure cohesion.


Author(s):  
Jacob Edogbanya ◽  
Daniela Tejada‐Martinez ◽  
Nigel J. Jones ◽  
Amit Jaiswal ◽  
Sarah Bell ◽  
...  

AbstractThe C1ORF112 gene initially drew attention when it was found to be strongly co‐expressed with several genes previously associated with cancer and implicated in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation, such as RAD51 and the BRCA genes. The molecular functions of C1ORF112 remain poorly understood, yet several studies have uncovered clues as to its potential functions. Here, we review the current knowledge on C1ORF112 biology, its evolutionary history, possible functions, and its potential relevance to cancer. C1ORF112 is conserved throughout eukaryotes, from plants to humans, and is very highly conserved in primates. Protein models suggest that C1ORF112 is an alpha-helical protein. Interestingly, homozygous knockout mice are not viable, suggesting an essential role for C1ORF112 in mammalian development. Gene expression data show that, among human tissues, C1ORF112 is highly expressed in the testes and overexpressed in various cancers when compared to healthy tissues. C1ORF112 has also been shown to have altered levels of expression in some tumours with mutant TP53. Recent screens associate C1ORF112 with DNA replication and reveal possible links to DNA damage repair pathways, including the Fanconi anaemia pathway and homologous recombination. These insights provide important avenues for future research in our efforts to understand the functions and potential disease relevance of C1ORF112.


2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 927-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Wang ◽  
David Cortez ◽  
Parvin Yazdi ◽  
Norma Neff ◽  
Stephen J. Elledge ◽  
...  

We report the identities of the members of a group of proteins that associate with BRCA1 to form a large complex that we have named BASC (BRCA1-associated genomesurveillance complex). This complex includes tumor suppressors and DNA damage repair proteins MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, ATM, BLM, and the RAD50–MRE11–NBS1 protein complex. In addition, DNA replication factor C (RFC), a protein complex that facilitates the loading of PCNA onto DNA, is also part of BASC. We find that BRCA1, the BLM helicase, and the RAD50–MRE11–NBS1 complex colocalize to large nuclear foci that contain PCNA when cells are treated with agents that interfere with DNA synthesis. The association of BRCA1 with MSH2 and MSH6, which are required for transcription-coupled repair, provides a possible explanation for the role of BRCA1 in this pathway. Strikingly, all members of this complex have roles in recognition of abnormal DNA structures or damaged DNA, suggesting that BASC may serve as a sensor for DNA damage. Several of these proteins also have roles in DNA replication-associated repair. Collectively, these results suggest that BRCA1 may function as a coordinator of multiple activities required for maintenance of genomic integrity during the process of DNA replication and point to a central role for BRCA1 in DNA repair.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (663) ◽  
pp. eabd8379
Author(s):  
Heba Ali ◽  
Lena Marth ◽  
Dilja Krueger-Burg

Postsynaptic organizational protein complexes play central roles both in orchestrating synapse formation and in defining the functional properties of synaptic transmission that together shape the flow of information through neuronal networks. A key component of these organizational protein complexes is the family of synaptic adhesion proteins called neuroligins. Neuroligins form transsynaptic bridges with presynaptic neurexins to regulate various aspects of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission. Neuroligin-2 (NLGN2) is the only member that acts exclusively at GABAergic inhibitory synapses. Altered expression and mutations in NLGN2 and several of its interacting partners are linked to cognitive and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and anxiety. Research on NLGN2 has fundamentally shaped our understanding of the molecular architecture of inhibitory synapses. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on the molecular and cellular functions of mammalian NLGN2 and its role in the neuronal circuitry that regulates behavior in rodents and humans.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A McAlear ◽  
K Michelle Tuffo ◽  
Connie Holm

We used genetic and biochemical techniques to characterize the phenotypes associated with mutations affecting the large subunit of replication factor C (Cdc44p or Rfc1p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that Cdc44p is required for both DNA replication and DNA repair in vivo. Cold-sensitive cdc44 mutants experience a delay in traversing S phase at the restrictive temperature following alpha factor arrest; although mutant cells eventually accumulate with a G2/M DNA content, they undergo a cell cycle arrest and initiate neither mitosis nor a new round of DNA synthesis. cdc44 mutants also exhibit an elevated level of spontaneous mutation, and they are sensitive both to the DNA damaging agent methylmethane sulfonate and to exposure to UV radiation. After exposure to UV radiation, cdc44 mutants at the restrictive temperature contain higher levels of single-stranded DNA breaks than do wild-type cells. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that Cdc44p is involved in repairing gaps in the DNA after the excision of damaged bases. Thus, Cdc44p plays an important role in both DNA replication and DNA repair in vivo.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Hae Ryung Chang ◽  
Eunyoung Jung ◽  
Soobin Cho ◽  
Young-Jun Jeon ◽  
Yonghwan Kim

While Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and technological advances have been useful in identifying genetic profiles of tumorigenesis, novel target proteins and various clinical biomarkers, cancer continues to be a major global health threat. DNA replication, DNA damage response (DDR) and repair, and cell cycle regulation continue to be essential systems in targeted cancer therapies. Although many genes involved in DDR are known to be tumor suppressor genes, cancer cells are often dependent and addicted to these genes, making them excellent therapeutic targets. In this review, genes implicated in DNA replication, DDR, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation are discussed with reference to peptide or small molecule inhibitors which may prove therapeutic in cancer patients. Additionally, the potential of utilizing novel synthetic lethal genes in these pathways is examined, providing possible new targets for future therapeutics. Specifically, we evaluate the potential of TONSL as a novel gene for targeted therapy. Although it is a scaffold protein with no known enzymatic activity, the strategy used for developing PCNA inhibitors can also be utilized to target TONSL. This review summarizes current knowledge on non-oncogene addiction, and the utilization of synthetic lethality for developing novel inhibitors targeting non-oncogenic addiction for cancer therapy.


Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Bian ◽  
Wenchu Lin

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), accounting for about 15% of all cases of lung cancer worldwide, is the most lethal form of lung cancer. Despite an initially high response rate of SCLC to standard treatment, almost all patients are invariably relapsed within one year. Effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes. Replication stress is a hallmark of SCLC due to several intrinsic factors. As a consequence, constitutive activation of the replication stress response (RSR) pathway and DNA damage repair system is involved in counteracting this genotoxic stress. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of such RSR and DNA damage repair pathways will be likely to kill SCLC cells preferentially and may be exploited in improving chemotherapeutic efficiency through interfering with DNA replication to exert their functions. Here, we summarize potentially valuable targets involved in the RSR and DNA damage repair pathways, rationales for targeting them in SCLC treatment and ongoing clinical trials, as well as possible predictive biomarkers for patient selection in the management of SCLC.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Mastropasqua ◽  
Vincenzo Fasanella ◽  
Alessandra Mastropasqua ◽  
Marco Ciancaglini ◽  
Luca Agnifili

The ciliary body ablation is still considered as a last resort treatment to reduce the intraocular pressure (IOP) in uncontrolled glaucoma. Several ablation techniques have been proposed over the years, all presenting a high rate of complications, nonselectivity for the target organ, and unpredictable dose-effect relationship. These drawbacks limited the application of cyclodestructive procedures almost exclusively to refractory glaucoma. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), proposed in the early 1980s and later abandoned because of the complexity and side effects of the procedure, was recently reconsidered in a new approach to destroy the ciliary body. Ultrasound circular cyclocoagulation (UC3), by using miniaturized transducers embedded in a dedicated circular-shaped device, permits to selectively treat the ciliary body in a one-step, computer-assisted, and non-operator-dependent procedure. UC3 shows a high level of safety along with a predictable and sustained IOP reduction in patients with refractory glaucoma. Because of this, the indication of UC3 was recently extended also to naïve-to-surgery patients, thus reconsidering the role and timing of ciliary body ablation in the surgical management of glaucoma. This article provides a review of the most used cycloablative techniques with particular attention to UC3, summarizing the current knowledge about this procedure and future possible developments.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 617
Author(s):  
Silvia Guillén ◽  
Laura Nadal ◽  
Ignacio Álvarez ◽  
Pilar Mañas ◽  
Guillermo Cebrián

The success of Salmonella as a foodborne pathogen can probably be attributed to two major features: its remarkable genetic diversity and its extraordinary ability to adapt. Salmonella cells can survive in harsh environments, successfully compete for nutrients, and cause disease once inside the host. Furthermore, they are capable of rapidly reprogramming their metabolism, evolving in a short time from a stress-resistance mode to a growth or virulent mode, or even to express stress resistance and virulence factors at the same time if needed, thanks to a complex and fine-tuned regulatory network. It is nevertheless generally acknowledged that the development of stress resistance usually has a fitness cost for bacterial cells and that induction of stress resistance responses to certain agents can trigger changes in Salmonella virulence. In this review, we summarize and discuss current knowledge concerning the effects that the development of resistance responses to stress conditions encountered in food and food processing environments (including acid, osmotic and oxidative stress, starvation, modified atmospheres, detergents and disinfectants, chilling, heat, and non-thermal technologies) exerts on different aspects of the physiology of non-typhoidal Salmonellae, with special emphasis on virulence and growth fitness.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Kovelman ◽  
P Russell

The DNA replication checkpoint couples the onset of mitosis with the completion of S phase. It is clear that in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, operation of this checkpoint requires maintenance of the inhibitory tyrosyl phosphorylation of Cdc2. Cdc25 phosphatase induces mitosis by dephosphorylating tyrosine 15 of Cdc2. In this report, Cdc25 is shown to accumulate to a very high level in cells arrested in S. This shows that mechanisms which modulate the abundance of Cdc25 are unconnected to the DNA replication checkpoint. Using a Cdc2/cyclin B activation assay, we found that Cdc25 activity increased approximately 10-fold during transit through M phase. Cdc25 was activated by phosphorylations that were dependent on Cdc2 activity in vivo. Cdc25 activation was suppressed in cells arrested in G1 and S. However, Cdc25 was more highly modified and appeared to be somewhat more active in S than in G1. This finding might be connected to the fact that progression from G1 to S increases the likelihood that constitutive Cdc25 overproduction will cause inappropriate mitosis.


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