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DNA translocation mechanism of the MCM complex and implications for replication initiation

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN (United States); Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE (United States)
  3. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN (United States)
The DNA translocation activity of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex powers DNA strand separation of the replication forks of eukaryotes and archaea. Here we illustrate an atomic level mechanism for this activity with a crystal structure of an archaeal MCM hexamer bound to single-stranded DNA and nucleotide cofactors. Sequence conservation indicates this rotary mechanism is fully possible for all eukaryotes and archaea. The structure definitively demonstrates the ring orients during translocation with the N-terminal domain leading, indicating that the translocation activity could also provide the physical basis of replication initiation where a double-hexamer idly encircling double-stranded DNA transforms to single-hexamers that encircle only one strand. In this mechanism, each strand binds to the N-terminal tier of one hexamer and the AAA+ tier of the other hexamer such that one ring pulls on the other, aligning equivalent interfaces to enable each hexamer to pull its translocation strand outside of the opposing hexamer.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC); Comprehensive Cancer Center Support; National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
1557308
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

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Cited By (4)

AAA+ ATPases: structural insertions under the magnifying glass journal February 2021
DNA unwinding mechanism of a eukaryotic replicative CMG helicase journal February 2020
Additional file 1 of MCM6 indicates adverse tumor features and poor outcomes and promotes G1/S cell cycle progression in neuroblastoma dataset January 2021
Amidst multiple binding orientations on fork DNA, Saccharolobus MCM helicase proceeds N-first for unwinding journal October 2019

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