Claspin and Chk1 regulate replication fork stability by different mechanisms

The checkpoint mediator protein Claspin facilitates the phosphorylation and activation of Chk1 by ATR and thus is required for efficient DNA replication. However, the physical association of Claspin homologues with replication factors and forks suggests that it might have additional functions in controlling DNA replication. DNA combing was used to examine the functions of Chk1 and Claspin at individual forks and to determine whether Claspin functions independently of Chk1. We find that Claspin, like Chk1, regulates fork stability and density in unperturbed cells. As expected, Chk1 regulates origin firing predominantly by controlling Cdk2-Cdc25 function. By contrast, Claspin functions independently of the Cdc25-Cdk2 pathway in mammalian cells. The findings support a model in which Claspin plays a role regulating replication fork stability that is independent of its function in mediating Chk1 phosphorylation.