Is DNA sequence sufficient to specify DNA replication origins in metazoan cells?
DNA replication occupies a central position in the cell cycle and, therefore, in the development and life of multicellular organisms. During the last 10 years, our comprehension of this important process has considerably improved. Although the mechanisms that coordinate DNA replication with the other moments of the cell cycle are not yet fully understood, it is known that they mainly operate through DNA replication origins and the protein complexes bound to them. In eukaryotes, the packaging status of chromatin seems to be part of the mechanism that controls whether or not and when during the S-phase a particular origin will be activated. Intriguingly, the protein complexes bound to DNA replication origins appear to be directly involved in controlling chromatin packaging. In this manner they can also affect gene expression. In this review we focus on DNA replication origins in metazoan cells and on the relationship between these elements and the structural and functional organization of the genome.
Biamonti
Giuseppe
G
Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy. biamonti@igm.cnr.it
Paixão
Sónia
S
Montecucco
Alessandra
A
Peverali
Fiorenzo Antonio
FA
Riva
Silvano
S
Falaschi
Arturo
A
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051738:Origin Recognition Complex; D010944:Plants; D018741:Replication Origin / Q000235:genetics*
D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051738:Origin Recognition Complex