Excess MCM proteins protect human cells from replicative stress by licensing backup origins of replication.
The six main minichromosome maintenance proteins (Mcm2-7), which presumably constitute the core of the replicative DNA helicase, are present in chromatin in large excess relative to the number of active replication forks. To evaluate the relevance of this apparent surplus of Mcm2-7 complexes in human cells, their levels were down-regulated by using RNA interference. Interestingly, cells continued to proliferate for several days after the acute (>90%) reduction of Mcm2-7 concentration. However, they became hypersensitive to DNA replication stress, accumulated DNA lesions, and eventually activated a checkpoint response that prevented mitotic division. When this checkpoint was abrogated by the addition of caffeine, cells quickly lost viability, and their karyotypes revealed striking chromosomal aberrations. Single-molecule analyses revealed that cells with a reduced concentration of Mcm2-7 complexes display normal fork progression but have lost the potential to activate "dormant" origins that serve a backup function during DNA replication. Our data show that the chromatin-bound "excess" Mcm2-7 complexes play an important role in maintaining genomic integrity under conditions of replicative stress.
Ibarra
Arkaitz
A
DNA Replication Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3. E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
Schwob
Etienne
E
Méndez
Juan
J
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D004249:DNA Damage; D004261:DNA Replication; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018741:Replication Origin; D016196:S Phase; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D014157:Transcription Factors