G2/M checkpoint genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: further evidence for roles in DNA replication and/or repair
Abstract
We have cloned, sequenced and disrupted the checkpoint genes RAD17, RAD24 and MEC3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mec3p shows no strong similarity to other proteins currently in the database. Rad17p is similar to Rec1 from Ustilago maydis, a 3' to 5' DNA exonuclease/checkpoint protein, and the checkpoint protein Rad1p from Schizosaccharomyces pombe (as we previously reported). Rad24p shows sequence similarity to replication factor C (RFC) subunits, and the S. pombe Rad17p checkpoint protein, suggesting it has a role in DNA replication and/or repair. This hypothesis is supported by our genetic experiments which show that overexpression of RAD24 strongly reduces the growth rate of yeast strains that are defective in the DNA replication/repair proteins Rfc1p (cdc44), DNA pol alpha (cdc17) and DNA pol delta (cdc2) but has much weaker effects on cdc6, cdc9, cdc15 and CDC4 strains. The idea that RAD24 overexpression induces DNA damage, perhaps by interfering with replication/repair complexes, is further supported by our observation that RAD24 overexpression increases mitotic chromosome recombination in CDC4 strains. Although RAD17, RAD24 and MEC3 are not required for cell cycle arrest when S phase is inhibited by hydroxyurea (HU), they...Continue Reading
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Cell Checkpoints & Regulators
Cell cycle checkpoints are a series of complex checkpoint mechanisms that detect DNA abnormalities and ensure that DNA replication and repair are complete before cell division. They are primarily regulated by cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, and the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome. Here is the latest research.