A Fraction of MCM 2 Proteins Remain Associated with Replication Foci During a Major Part of S Phase

作者：Masata M; Juda P; Raska O; Cardoso M C; Raska I^*

来源：Folia Biologica, 2011, 57(1): 3-11.

• DNA replication
• MCM proteins
• immunofluorescence
• replication foci
• MCM paradox

The essential role of MCM 2-7 proteins in the initiation of DNA replication in all eukaryotes is well known. Their role in replication elongation is supported by numerous studies, but there is still a knowledge gap in this respect. Even though biochemical studies have established an association of MCM proteins with replication forks, previous immunofluorescence studies in mammalian cells have suggested that MCM 2-7 proteins are displaced after replication initiation from sites of DNA replication. Therefore, we used a robust statistical method to more precisely analyse immunofluorescence localization of MCM 2 proteins with respect to the DNA replication foci. We show that despite the predominantly different localization of MCM 2 and replication signals, there is still a small but significant fraction of MCM 2 proteins that co-localize with DNA replication foci during most of S phase. The fluorescence localization of the MCM 2 proteins and DNA replication may thus reflect an active function of MCM 2 proteins associated with the replication foci and partially explain one facet of the "MCM paradox".

• 出版日期2011