HERC2 Interacts with Claspin and regulates DNA origin firing and replication fork progression

DNA replication, recombination, and repair are highly interconnected processes the disruption of which must be coordinated in cancer. HERC2, a large HECT protein required for homologous recombination repair, is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets breast cancer suppressor BRCA1 for degradation. Here, we show that HERC2 is a component of the DNA replication fork complex that plays a critical role in DNA elongation and origin firing. In the presence of BRCA1, endogenous HERC2 interacts with Claspin, a protein essential for G(2)-M checkpoint activation and replication fork stability. Claspin depletion slowed S-phase progression and additional HERC2 depletion reduced the effect of Claspin depletion. In addition, HERC2 interacts with replication fork complex proteins. Depletion of HERC2 alleviated the slow replication fork progression in Claspin-deficient cells, suppressed enhanced origin firing, and led to a decrease in MCM2 phosphorylation. In a HERC2-dependent manner, treatment of cells with replication inhibitor aphidicolin enhanced MCM2 phosphorylation. Taken together, our results suggest that HERC2 regulates DNA replication progression and origin firing by facilitating MCM2 phosphorylation. These findings establish HERC2 as a critical function in DNA repair, checkpoint activation, and DNA replication.