Identification of a Heteromeric Complex That Promotes DNA Replication Origin Firing in Human Cells

Abstract

Keeping Coordinated Before a cell divides, it must replicate its genome so that both daughter cells receive a copy of the parental DNA. Replication must be tightly regulated to ensure that the genome is replicated only once, because over- or underreplication could result in aberrations that cause genome instability. Thus, replication must be coordinated with other events in the cell, such as the cell cycle and DNA damage response systems. Boos et al. (p. 981 ) analyzed the function of the Treslin/TICRR protein, an essential DNA replication factor regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases and the DNA damage checkpoint. Treslin interacts with the Mdm Two Binding Protein (MTBP), implicated in oncogenesis. MTBP and Treslin appear to integrate signals from the cell cycle and the DNA damage–response pathway, thereby controlling the initiation of DNA replication.