The MCM2-7 complex is a hexameric protein complex that serves as a DNA helicase. It unwinds the DNA double helix during DNA replication, thereby providing the single-stranded replication template. In recent years, it has become clear that the MCM2-7 complex has additional functions that extend well beyond its role in DNA replication. Through physical and functional interactions with different pathways, it impacts other nuclear events and activities, including folding of the genome, histone inheritance, chromosome segregation, DNA damage sensing and repair, and gene transcription. Collectively, the diverse roles of the MCM2-7 complex suggest it plays a critical role in maintaining genome integrity by integrating the regulation of DNA replication with other pathways in the nucleus.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology13040258 | DOI Listing |
PLoS Genet
January 2025
Biomedical Science Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America.
Proteins with nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) are directed into the cell nucleus through interactions between the NLS and importin proteins. NLSs are generally short motifs rich in basic amino acids; however, identifying NLSs can be challenging due to the lack of a universally conserved sequence. In this study, we characterized the sequence specificity of an essential and conserved NLS in Mcm3, a subunit of the replicative DNA helicase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Macromolecular Machines Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
The MCM motor of the eukaryotic replicative helicase is loaded as a double hexamer onto DNA by the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC), Cdc6, and Cdt1. ATP binding supports formation of the ORC-Cdc6-Cdt1-MCM (OCCM) helicase-recruitment complex where ORC-Cdc6 and one MCM hexamer form two juxtaposed rings around duplex DNA. ATP hydrolysis by MCM completes MCM loading but the mechanism is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
December 2024
Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 4100 John R Street, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
The DNA replication machinery is highly conserved from bacteria to eukaryotic cells. Faithful DNA replication is vital for cells to transmit accurate genetic information to the next generation. However, both internal and external DNA damages threaten the intricate DNA replication process, leading to the activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
DNA Replication Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Human DNA licensing initiates replication fork assembly and DNA replication. This reaction promotes the loading of the hMCM2-7 complex on DNA, which represents the core of the replicative helicase that unwinds DNA during S-phase. Here, we report the reconstitution of human DNA licensing using purified proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNucleic Acids Res
January 2025
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Cell cycle checkpoints are the regulatory mechanisms that secure the strict order of cellular events for cell division that ensure genome integrity. It has been proposed that mitosis initiation depends on the completion of DNA replication, which must be tightly controlled to guarantee genome duplication. Contrary to these conventional hypotheses, we showed here that cells were able to enter mitosis without completion of DNA replication.
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