Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
17:14
Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization
Published on: December 10, 2012
Cyclin-dependent kinase-dependent initiation of chromosomal DNA replication
1Department of Microbial Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Japan. hiaraki@lab.nig.ac.jp
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|August 24, 2010
Summary
Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) initiates DNA replication by phosphorylating Sld2 and Sld3 proteins. These interactions are crucial for forming the pre-loading complex and activating DNA replication in yeast.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Cycle Regulation
- Yeast Genetics
Background:
- Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) plays a vital role in regulating the cell cycle.
- DNA replication initiation is a tightly controlled process essential for cell division.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication is fundamental in cell biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the essential role of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) in initiating chromosomal DNA replication.
- To elucidate the phosphorylation-dependent interactions of yeast replication proteins Sld2, Sld3, and Dpb11.
- To discuss the formation and regulation of the pre-loading complex (pre-LC) in DNA replication.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on CDK, DNA replication, and associated proteins.
- Analysis of phosphorylation-dependent interactions between Sld2, Sld3, and Dpb11.
- Discussion of the role of multisite phosphorylation in regulating Sld2 function.
Main Results:
- CDK-mediated phosphorylation of Sld2 and Sld3 is essential for DNA replication initiation.
- Phosphorylated Sld2 and Sld3 bind to Dpb11, forming the minimal requirements for CDK activation.
- The pre-loading complex (pre-LC) formation involves interactions with phosphorylated Sld3 at replication origins.
- Multisite phosphorylation of Sld2 further regulates these initiation steps.
- Sld3 turnover is necessary for reassociation with replication origins.
- Pol ɛ acts as both a pre-LC component and a replicative DNA polymerase.
Conclusions:
- Phosphorylation-dependent interactions orchestrated by CDK are central to initiating yeast DNA replication.
- The formation and regulation of the pre-LC, involving Sld2, Sld3, Dpb11, and Pol ɛ, are critical for replication origin activation.
- Dynamic regulation of replication proteins, including Sld3 turnover, ensures proper cell cycle progression.
Related Concept Videos
02:38S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication
The cell cycle is a series of events leading to DNA duplication followed by the division of cell content to form two daughter cells. The cell cycle progresses in four stages—the cell increases in size (gap 1 or G1-phase), duplicates its DNA (synthesis or S-phase), prepares to divide (gap 2 or G2-phase), and divides (mitosis or M-phase).
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of replication.
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of replication.
02:38S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication
The cell cycle is a series of events leading to DNA duplication followed by the division of cell content to form two daughter cells. The cell cycle progresses in four stages—the cell increases in size (gap 1 or G1-phase), duplicates its DNA (synthesis or S-phase), prepares to divide (gap 2 or G2-phase), and divides (mitosis or M-phase).
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of replication.
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of replication.
01:29Replication in Eukaryotes
In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is highly conserved and tightly regulated. Multiple linear chromosomes must be duplicated with high fidelity before cell division, so there are many proteins that fulfill specialized roles in the replication process. Replication occurs in three phases: initiation, elongation, and termination, and ends with two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus.
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
02:31Replication in Eukaryotes
Overview
02:37Restarting Stalled Replication Forks
DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...
02:37Restarting Stalled Replication Forks
DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...