NMR characterization of the structure of the intrinsically disordered region of human origin recognition complex subunit 1, hORC1, and of its interaction with G-quadruplex DNAs.

Human origin recognition complex (hORC) binds to the DNA replication origin and then initiates DNA replication. However, hORC does not exhibit DNA sequence-specificity and how hORC recognizes the replication origin on genomic DNA remains elusive. Previously, we found that hORC recognizes G-quadruplex structures potentially formed near the replication origin. Then, we showed that hORC subunit 1 (hORC1) preferentially binds to G-quadruplex DNAs using a hORC1 construct comprising residues 413 to 511 (hORC1413-511). Here, we investigate the structural characteristics of hORC1413-511 in its free and complex forms with G-quadruplex DNAs. Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic studies indicated that hORC1413-511 is disordered except for a short α-helical region in both the free and complex forms. NMR chemical shift perturbation (CSP) analysis suggested that basic residues, arginines and lysines, and polar residues, serines and threonines, are involved in the G-quadruplex DNA binding. Then, this was confirmed by mutation analysis. Interestingly, CSP analysis indicated that hORC1413-511 binds to both parallel- and (3 + 1)-type G-quadruplex DNAs using the same residues, and thereby in the same manner. Our study suggests that hORC1 uses its intrinsically disordered G-quadruplex binding region to recognize parallel-type and (3 + 1)-type G-quadruplex structures at replication origin.

ORC1 binds to cis-transcribed RNAs for efficient activation of replication origins.

Cells must coordinate the activation of thousands of replication origins dispersed throughout their genome. Active transcription is known to favor the formation of mammalian origins, although the role that RNA plays in this process remains unclear. We show that the ORC1 subunit of the human Origin Recognition Complex interacts with RNAs transcribed from genes with origins in their transcription start sites (TSSs), displaying a positive correlation between RNA binding and origin activity. RNA depletion, or the use of ORC1 RNA-binding mutant, result in inefficient activation of proximal origins, linked to impaired ORC1 chromatin release. ORC1 RNA binding activity resides in its intrinsically disordered region, involved in intra- and inter-molecular interactions, regulation by phosphorylation, and phase-separation. We show that RNA binding favors ORC1 chromatin release, by regulating its phosphorylation and subsequent degradation. Our results unveil a non-coding function of RNA as a dynamic component of the chromatin, orchestrating the activation of replication origins.

Investigation of the Interaction of Human Origin Recognition Complex Subunit 1 with G-Quadruplex DNAs of Human c-myc Promoter and Telomere Regions.

Origin recognition complex (ORC) binds to replication origins in eukaryotic DNAs and plays an important role in replication. Although yeast ORC is known to sequence-specifically bind to a replication origin, how human ORC recognizes a replication origin remains unknown. Previous genome-wide studies revealed that guanine (G)-rich sequences, potentially forming G-quadruplex (G4) structures, are present in most replication origins in human cells. We previously suggested that the region comprising residues 413-511 of human ORC subunit 1, hORC1413-511, binds preferentially to G-rich DNAs, which form a G4 structure in the absence of hORC1413-511. Here, we investigated the interaction of hORC1413-511 with various G-rich DNAs derived from human c-myc promoter and telomere regions. Fluorescence anisotropy revealed that hORC1413-511 binds preferentially to DNAs that have G4 structures over ones having double-stranded structures. Importantly, circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed that those G-rich DNAs retain the G4 structures even after binding with hORC1413-511. NMR chemical shift perturbation analyses revealed that the external G-tetrad planes of the G4 structures are the primary binding sites for hORC1413-511. The present study suggests that human ORC1 may recognize replication origins through the G4 structure.

Regulation of the Rev1-pol ζ complex during bypass of a DNA interstrand cross-link.

DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) are repaired in S phase by a complex, multistep mechanism involving translesion DNA polymerases. After replication forks collide with an ICL, the leading strand approaches to within one nucleotide of the ICL ("approach"), a nucleotide is inserted across from the unhooked lesion ("insertion"), and the leading strand is extended beyond the lesion ("extension"). How DNA polymerases bypass the ICL is incompletely understood. Here, we use repair of a site-specific ICL in Xenopus egg extracts to study the mechanism of lesion bypass. Deep sequencing of ICL repair products showed that the approach and extension steps are largely error-free. However, a short mutagenic tract is introduced in the vicinity of the lesion, with a maximum mutation frequency of ~1%. Our data further suggest that approach is performed by a replicative polymerase, while extension involves a complex of Rev1 and DNA polymerase ζ. Rev1-pol ζ recruitment requires the Fanconi anemia core complex but not FancI-FancD2. Our results begin to illuminate how lesion bypass is integrated with chromosomal DNA replication to limit ICL repair-associated mutagenesis.

Human origin recognition complex binds preferentially to G-quadruplex-preferable RNA and single-stranded DNA.

Origin recognition complex (ORC), consisting of six subunits ORC1-6, is known to bind to replication origins and function in the initiation of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. In contrast to the fact that Saccharomyces cerevisiae ORC recognizes the replication origin in a sequence-specific manner, metazoan ORC has not exhibited strict sequence-specificity for DNA binding. Here we report that human ORC binds preferentially to G-quadruplex (G4)-preferable G-rich RNA or single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). We mapped the G-rich RNA-binding domain in the ORC1 subunit, in a region adjacent to its ATPase domain. This domain itself has an ability to preferentially recognize G4-preferable sequences of ssDNA. Furthermore, we found, by structure modeling, that the G-rich RNA-binding domain is similar to the N-terminal portion of AdoMet_MTase domain of mammalian DNA methyltransferase 1. Therefore, in contrast with the binding to double-stranded DNA, human ORC has an apparent sequence preference with respect to its RNA/ssDNA binding. Interestingly, this specificity coincides with the common signature present in most of the human replication origins. We expect that our findings provide new insights into the regulations of function and chromatin binding of metazoan ORCs.

Biphasic chromatin binding of histone chaperone FACT during eukaryotic chromatin DNA replication.

The facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex affects nuclear DNA transactions in a chromatin context. Though the involvement of FACT in eukaryotic DNA replication has been revealed, a clear understanding of its biochemical behavior during DNA replication still remains elusive. Here, we analyzed the chromatin-binding dynamics of FACT using Xenopus egg extract cell-free system. We found that FACT has at least two distinct chromatin-binding phases: (1) a rapid chromatin-binding phase at the onset of DNA replication that did not involve origin licensing and (2) a second phase of chromatin binding that initiated after origin licensing. Intriguingly, early-binding FACT dissociated from chromatin when DNA replication was blocked by the addition of Cdc6 in the licensed state before origin firing. Cdc6-induced removal of FACT was blocked by the inhibition of origin licensing with geminin, but not by suppressing the activity of DNA polymerases, CDK, or Cdc7. Furthermore, chromatin transfer experiments revealed that impairing the later binding of FACT severely compromises DNA replication activity. Taken together, we propose that even though FACT has rapid chromatin-binding activity, the binding pattern of FACT on chromatin changes after origin licensing, which may contribute to the establishment of its functional link to the DNA replication machinery.

Continued primer synthesis at stalled replication forks contributes to checkpoint activation.

Stalled replication forks activate and are stabilized by the ATR (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related)-mediated checkpoint, but ultimately, they must also recover from the arrest. Although primed single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is sufficient for checkpoint activation, it is still unknown how this signal is generated at a stalled replication fork. Furthermore, it is not clear how recovery and fork restart occur in higher eukaryotes. Using Xenopus laevis egg extracts, we show that DNA replication continues at a stalled fork through the synthesis and elongation of new primers independent of the checkpoint. This synthesis is dependent on the activity of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Pol-delta, and Pol-epsilon, and it contributes to the phosphorylation of Chk1. We also used defined DNA structures to show that for a fixed amount of ssDNA, increasing the number of primer-template junctions strongly enhances Chk1 phosphorylation. These results suggest that new primers are synthesized at stalled replication forks by the leading and lagging strand polymerases and that accumulation of these primers may contribute to checkpoint activation.

Deregulated Cdc6 inhibits DNA replication and suppresses Cdc7-mediated phosphorylation of Mcm2-7 complex.

Mcm2-7 is recruited to eukaryotic origins of DNA replication by origin recognition complex, Cdc6 and Cdt1 thereby licensing the origins. Cdc6 is essential for origin licensing during DNA replication and is readily destabilized from chromatin after Mcm2-7 loading. Here, we show that after origin licensing, deregulation of Cdc6 suppresses DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts without the involvement of ATM/ATR-dependent checkpoint pathways. DNA replication is arrested specifically after chromatin binding of Cdc7, but before Cdk2-dependent pathways and deregulating Cdc6 after this step does not impair activation of origin firing or elongation. Detailed analyses revealed that Cdc6 deregulation leads to strong suppression of Cdc7-mediated hyperphosphorylation of Mcm4 and subsequent chromatin loading of Cdc45, Sld5 and DNA polymerase α. Mcm2 phosphorylation is also repressed although to a lesser extent. Remarkably, Cdc6 itself does not directly inhibit Cdc7 kinase activity towards Mcm2-4-6-7 in purified systems, rather modulates Mcm2-7 phosphorylation on chromatin context. Taken together, we propose that Cdc6 on chromatin acts as a modulator of Cdc7-mediated phosphorylation of Mcm2-7, and thus destabilization of Cdc6 from chromatin after licensing is a key event ensuring proper transition to the initiation of DNA replication.

Near-full-length REV3L appears to be a scarce maternal factor in Xenopus laevis eggs that changes qualitatively in early embryonic development.

REV3 is the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase zeta (pol zeta), which is responsible for the damage-induced mutagenesis that arises during error-prone translesion synthesis in eukaryotes. The related REV3L genes in human and mouse encode proteins of approximately 350kDa, twice as large as yeast REV3, but full-length REV3L has not been identified in any vertebrate cell. We report that Xenopus laevisREV3L encodes a 352-kDa protein that has high overall amino acid sequence similarity to its mammalian counterparts, and, for the first time in a vertebrate species, we have detected putative REV3L polypeptides of 300 and 340kDa in X. laevis oocytes. Only the 300-kDa form is stored in eggs, where its concentration of about 65pM is much lower than those of other replication and repair proteins including the accessory pol zeta subunit REV7. In fertilized eggs, the levels of this polypeptide did not change until neurula; the larger 340-kDa form first appeared at stages after gastrula, suggesting a pattern of regulation during development. These observations indicate the existence of REV3L as a scarce protein, of approximately the full predicted size, whose level may impose severe constraints on the assembly of pol zeta in X. laevis.

Redundant and differential regulation of multiple licensing factors ensures prevention of re-replication in normal human cells.

When human cells enter S-phase, overlapping differential inhibitory mechanisms downregulate the replication licensing factors ORC1, CDC6 and Cdt1. Such regulation prevents re-replication so that deregulation of any individual factor alone would not be expected to induce overt re-replication. However, this has been challenged by the fact that overexpression of Cdt1 or Cdt1+CDC6 causes re-replication in some cancer cell lines. We thought it important to analyze licensing regulations in human non-cancerous cells that are resistant to Cdt1-induced re-replication and examined whether simultaneous deregulation of these licensing factors induces re-replication in two such cell lines, including human fibroblasts immortalized by telomerase. Individual overexpression of either Cdt1, ORC1 or CDC6 induced no detectable re-replication. However, with Cdt1+ORC1 or Cdt1+CDC6, some re-replication was detectable and coexpression of Cdt1+ORC1+CDC6 synergistically acted to give strong re-replication with increased mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) loading. Coexpression of ORC1+CDC6 was without effect. These results suggest that, although Cdt1 regulation is the key step, differential regulation of multiple licensing factors ensures prevention of re-replication in normal human cells. Our findings also show for the first time the importance of ORC1 regulation for prevention of re-replication.

The DNA polymerase activity of Pol epsilon holoenzyme is required for rapid and efficient chromosomal DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts.

BACKGROUND: DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol epsilon) is involved in DNA replication, repair, and cell-cycle checkpoint control in eukaryotic cells. Although the roles of replicative Pol alpha and Pol delta in chromosomal DNA replication are relatively well understood and well documented, the precise role of Pol epsilon in chromosomal DNA replication is not well understood. RESULTS: This study uses a Xenopus egg extract DNA replication system to further elucidate the replicative role(s) played by Pol epsilon. Previous studies show that the initiation timing and elongation of chromosomal DNA replication are markedly impaired in Pol epsilon-depleted Xenopus egg extracts, with reduced accumulation of replicative intermediates and products. This study shows that normal replication is restored by addition of Pol epsilon holoenzyme to Pol epsilon-depleted extracts, but not by addition of polymerase-deficient forms of Pol epsilon, including polymerase point or deletion mutants or incomplete enzyme complexes. Evidence is also provided that Pol epsilon holoenzyme interacts directly with GINS, Cdc45p and Cut5p, each of which plays an important role in initiation of chromosomal DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the DNA polymerase activity of Pol epsilon holoenzyme plays an essential role in normal chromosomal DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts. These are the first biochemical data to show the DNA polymerase activity of Pol epsilon holoenzyme is essential for chromosomal DNA replication in higher eukaryotes, unlike in yeasts.

De novo assembly of genuine replication forks on an immobilized circular plasmid in Xenopus egg extracts.

We describe an improved model of DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts, in which a circular plasmid immobilized on paramagnetic beads is used as a template. DNA synthesis occurred on either circular or linear plasmids coupled to the beads, but only DNA synthesis on the circular plasmid was inhibited by geminin and a CDK inhibitor, p21. DNA synthesis on the circular plasmid occurred after a time lag, during which nuclear formation was probably occurring. Although pre-replicative complexes (pre-RCs) were formed soon after mixing plasmids with egg extracts, binding of CDC45, RPA, Pol alpha, delta and epsilon, and PCNA to the circular plasmid was delayed, but still correlated with DNA synthesis. Moreover, p21 inhibited binding of these replication fork proteins to the circular plasmid. Therefore, the circular plasmid, but not the linear plasmid, assembles bona fide replication forks in egg extracts. We conclude that this improved replication system will be useful for studying the mechanism of formation of replication forks in eukaryotic DNA replication.

Accumulation of FFA-1, the Xenopus homolog of Werner helicase, and DNA polymerase delta on chromatin in response to replication fork arrest.

Werner syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by premature aging and cancer-prone symptoms, and is caused by mutation of the WRN gene. WRN is a member of the RecQ helicase family and is thought to function in processes implicated in DNA replication and repair to maintain genome stability; however, its precise function is still unclear. We found that replication fork arrest markedly enhances chromatin binding of focus-forming activity 1 (FFA-1), a Xenopus WRN homolog, in Xenopus egg extracts. In addition to FFA-1, DNA polymerase delta (Poldelta) and replication protein A, but not DNA polymerase epsilon and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, accumulated increasingly on replication-arrested chromatin. Elevated accumulation of these proteins was dependent on formation of pre-replicative complexes (pre-RCs). Double-strand break (DSB) formation also enhanced chromatin binding of FFA-1, but not Poldelta, independently of pre-RC formation. In contrast to FFA-1, chromatin binding of Xenopus Bloom syndrome helicase (xBLM) only slightly increased after replication arrest or DSB formation. Thus, WRN-specific, distinct processes can be reproduced in the in vitro system in egg extracts, and this system is useful for biochemical analysis of WRN functions during DNA metabolism.

Dynamics of DNA binding of replication initiation proteins during de novo formation of pre-replicative complexes in Xenopus egg extracts.

We investigated the dynamics of DNA binding of replication initiation proteins during formation of the pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) on plasmids in Xenopus egg extracts. The pre-RC was efficiently formed on plasmids at 23 degrees C, with one or a few origin recognition complex (ORC) molecules and approximately 10-20 mini-chromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2) molecules loaded onto each plasmid. Although geminin inhibited MCM loading, MCM interacted weakly but stoichiometrically with the plasmid in an ORC-dependent manner, even in the presence of geminin (with approximately 10 MCM2 molecules per plasmid). Interestingly, DNA binding of ORC, CDC6, and CDT1 was significantly stabilized in the presence of geminin, under which conditions approximately 10-20 molecules each of ORC and CDC6 were bound. Moreover, a similarly stable ORC-CDC6-CDT1 complex rapidly formed on DNA at lower temperature (0 degrees C) without geminin, with approximately 10-20 molecules each of ORC and CDC6 bound to the plasmid, but almost no binding of MCM. However, upon shifting the temperature to 23 degrees C, most ORC, CDC6, and CDT1 molecules were displaced from the DNA, leaving about one ORC molecule on the plasmid, whereas approximately 10 MCM2 molecules were loaded onto each plasmid. Furthermore, it was possible to load MCM onto DNA when the isolated ORC-CDC6-CDT1-DNA complex was mixed with purified MCM proteins. These results suggest that an ORC-CDC6-CDT1 complex pre-formed on DNA is directly involved in MCM loading and imply that each DNA-bound ORC molecule loads only one or a few MCM2-7 complexes during metazoan pre-RC formation.

Distinct roles of DNA polymerases delta and epsilon at the replication fork in Xenopus egg extracts.

DNA polymerases delta and epsilon (Poldelta and Polepsilon) are widely thought to be the major DNA polymerases that function in elongation during DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. However, the precise roles of these polymerases are still unclear. Here we comparatively analysed DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts in which Poldelta or Polepsilon was immunodepleted. Depletion of either polymerase resulted in a significant decrease in DNA synthesis and accumulation of short nascent DNA products, indicating an elongation defect. Moreover, Poldelta depletion caused a more severe defect in elongation, as shown by sustained accumulation of both short nascent DNA products and single-stranded DNA gaps, and also by elevated chromatin binding of replication proteins that function more frequently during lagging strand synthesis. Therefore, our data strongly suggest the possibilities that Poldelta is essential for lagging strand synthesis and that this function of Poldelta cannot be substituted for by Polepsilon.

Identification and characterization of a Xenopus homolog of Dbf4, a regulatory subunit of the Cdc7 protein kinase required for the initiation of DNA replication.

Dbf4 is a regulatory subunit for the Cdc7 protein kinase that is required for the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication, but the precise roles of Dbf4-Cdc7 remain to be determined. Here we identified a Xenopus homolog of Dbf4 (XDbf4) and characterized XDbf4 and Xenopus Cdc7 (XCdc7) in Xenopus egg extracts. XDbf4 formed a complex with XCdc7 in egg extracts and activated XCdc7 kinase activity in vitro. In contrast with Dbf4 in yeast and mammalian cultured cells, the XDbf4 levels in egg extracts did not change during the cell cycle progression. XDbf4 was a phosphoprotein in interphase extracts, and was apparently hyperphosphorylated in cytostatic factor (CSF)-mediated, metaphase-arrested extracts and in mitotic extracts. However, the hyperphosphorylation of XDbf4 did not seem to affect the level of kinase activation, or chromatin binding of the XDbf4-XCdc7 complex. Upon release from CSF-arrest, XDbf4 was partially dephosphorylated and bound to chromatin. Interestingly, XDbf4 was loaded onto chromatin before XCdc7 during DNA replication in egg extracts. These results suggest that the function of XDbf4-XCdc7 during the early embryonic cell cycle is regulated in a manner distinct from that during the somatic cell cycle.