Ku complex controls the replication time of DNA in telomere regions.
We have investigated whether the Ku complex is involved in regulating DNA replication in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that Ku proteins control the replication time of telomeric regions; replication origins located close to telomeres or within subtelomeric repeat sequences normally initiate late, but are activated much earlier in mutants lacking Ku function. In contrast, origins distant from telomeres initiate replication at the normal time. Ku is one of the first components identified as important for replication timing, and specification of the replication time of chromosome ends by Ku is consistent with its role in maintaining telomere localization.
D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D004261:DNA Replication; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D018741:Replication Origin / Q000502:physiology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C081647:high affinity DNA-binding factor, S cerevisiae