The Ctf18 RFC-like complex positions yeast telomeres but does not specify their replication time

Where and when to start: Regulating DNA replication origin activity in eukaryotic genomes

In eukaryotic genomes, hundreds to thousands of potential start sites of DNA replication named origins are dispersed across each of the linear chromosomes. During S-phase, only a subset of origins is selected in a stochastic manner to assemble bidirectional replication forks and initiate DNA synthesis. Despite substantial progress in our understanding of this complex process, a comprehensive 'identity code' that defines origins based on specific nucleotide sequences, DNA structural features, the local chromatin environment, or 3D genome architecture is still missing. In this article, we review the genetic and epigenetic features of replication origins in yeast and metazoan chromosomes and highlight recent insights into how this flexibility in origin usage contributes to nuclear organization, cell growth, differentiation, and genome stability.

Nuclear pore complexes mediate subtelomeric gene silencing by regulating PCNA levels on chromatin

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) physically interacts with chromatin and regulates gene expression. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae inner ring nucleoporin Nup170 has been implicated in chromatin organization and the maintenance of gene silencing in subtelomeric regions. To gain insight into how Nup170 regulates this process, we used protein-protein interactions, genetic interactions, and transcriptome correlation analyses to identify the Ctf18-RFC complex, an alternative proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) loader, as a facilitator of the gene regulatory functions of Nup170. The Ctf18-RFC complex is recruited to a subpopulation of NPCs that lack the nuclear basket proteins Mlp1 and Mlp2. In the absence of Nup170, PCNA levels on DNA are reduced, resulting in the loss of silencing of subtelomeric genes. Increasing PCNA levels on DNA by removing Elg1, which is required for PCNA unloading, rescues subtelomeric silencing defects in nup170Δ. The NPC, therefore, mediates subtelomeric gene silencing by regulating PCNA levels on DNA.

The nuclear pore complex as a platform for epigenetic regulation

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) both mediates exchange of proteins and RNA between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and physically interacts with chromatin to regulate transcription. In this issue of JCB, Kumar et al. (2023. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202207060) provide new insight into the molecular basis for NPC-mediated epigenetic silencing through loading of the replication processivity factor PCNA.

PCNA Loaders and Unloaders-One Ring That Rules Them All

During each cell duplication, the entirety of the genomic DNA in every cell must be accurately and quickly copied. Given the short time available for the chore, the requirement of many proteins, and the daunting amount of DNA present, DNA replication poses a serious challenge to the cell. A high level of coordination between polymerases and other DNA and chromatin-interacting proteins is vital to complete this task. One of the most important proteins for maintaining such coordination is PCNA. PCNA is a multitasking protein that forms a homotrimeric ring that encircles the DNA. It serves as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases and acts as a landing platform for different proteins interacting with DNA and chromatin. Therefore, PCNA is a signaling hub that influences the rate and accuracy of DNA replication, regulates DNA damage repair, controls chromatin formation during the replication, and the proper segregation of the sister chromatids. With so many essential roles, PCNA recruitment and turnover on the chromatin is of utmost importance. Three different, conserved protein complexes are in charge of loading/unloading PCNA onto DNA. Replication factor C (RFC) is the canonical complex in charge of loading PCNA during the S-phase. The Ctf18 and Elg1 (ATAD5 in mammalian) proteins form complexes similar to RFC, with particular functions in the cell’s nucleus. Here we summarize our current knowledge about the roles of these important factors in yeast and mammals.

Chromatin and Nuclear Architecture: Shaping DNA Replication in 3D

In eukaryotes, DNA replication progresses through a finely orchestrated temporal and spatial program. The 3D genome structure and nuclear architecture have recently emerged as fundamental determinants of the replication program. Factors with established roles in replication have been recognized as genome organization regulators. Exploiting paradigms from yeasts and mammals, we discuss how DNA replication is regulated in time and space through DNA-associated trans-acting factors, diffusible limiting replication initiation factors, higher-order chromatin folding, dynamic origin localization, and specific nuclear microenvironments. We present an integrated model for the regulation of DNA replication in 3D and highlight the importance of accurate spatio-temporal regulation of DNA replication in physiology and disease.

Division of Labor between PCNA Loaders in DNA Replication and Sister Chromatid Cohesion Establishment

Concomitant with DNA replication, the chromosomal cohesin complex establishes cohesion between newly replicated sister chromatids. Several replication-fork-associated "cohesion establishment factors," including the multifunctional Ctf18-RFC complex, aid this process in as yet unknown ways. Here, we show that Ctf18-RFC's role in sister chromatid cohesion correlates with PCNA loading but is separable from its role in the replication checkpoint. Ctf18-RFC loads PCNA with a slight preference for the leading strand, which is dispensable for DNA replication. Conversely, the canonical Rfc1-RFC complex preferentially loads PCNA onto the lagging strand, which is crucial for DNA replication but dispensable for sister chromatid cohesion. The downstream effector of Ctf18-RFC is cohesin acetylation, which we place toward a late step during replication maturation. Our results suggest that Ctf18-RFC enriches and balances PCNA levels at the replication fork, beyond the needs of DNA replication, to promote establishment of sister chromatid cohesion and possibly other post-replicative processes.

DNA Replication and Sister Chromatid Cohesion 1 (DSCC1) of the Replication Factor Complex CTF18-RFC is Critical for Colon Cancer Cell Growth

DNA replication and sister chromatid cohesion 1 (DSCC1) combines with chromosome transmission-fidelity protein 18 (CTF18) to form a CTF18-DSCC1-CTF8 (CTF18-1-8) module, which in combination with CTF18-replication factor C (RFC) acts as a proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) loader during DNA replication-associated processes. It was found that DSCC1 was overexpressed in tumor tissues from patients with colon cancer and that the survival probability of patients with colon cancer was lower when the expression of cytosolic DSCC1 was higher in tumor regions (P=0.047). By using DSCC1- or CTF18-knockdown cell lines (HCT116-shDSCC1 or HCT116-shCTF18, respectively), it was confirmed that DSCC1-knockdown inhibits cell proliferation and invasion, but that CTF18-knockdown does not. Tumors in mice xenografted with shDSCC1 cells were significantly smaller compared with those in mice in the mock group or those xenografted with shCTF18 cells. The shDSCC1 cells were highly sensitive to γ-irradiation and other DNA replication inhibitory treatments, resulting in low cell viability. The present results suggested that DSCC1 is the most important component in the CTF18-1-8 module for CTF18-RFC and is highly relevant to the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells, and, therefore, it may be a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer treatment.

Implications of maintenance of mother-bud neck size in diverse vital processes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The mother-bud neck is defined as the boundary between the mother cell and bud in budding microorganisms, wherein sequential morphological events occur throughout the cell cycle. This study was designed to quantitatively investigate the morphology of the mother-bud neck in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Observation of yeast cells with time-lapse microscopy revealed an increase of mother-bud neck size through the cell cycle. After screening of yeast non-essential gene-deletion mutants with the image processing software CalMorph, we comprehensively identified 274 mutants with broader necks during S/G2 phase. Among these yeasts, we extensively analyzed 19 representative deletion mutants with defects in genes annotated to six gene ontology terms (polarisome, actin reorganization, endosomal tethering complex, carboxy-terminal domain protein kinase complex, DNA replication, and maintenance of DNA trinucleotide repeats). The representative broad-necked mutants exhibited calcofluor white sensitivity, suggesting defects in their cell walls. Correlation analysis indicated that maintenance of mother-bud neck size is important for cellular processes such as cell growth, system robustness, and replicative lifespan. We conclude that neck-size maintenance in budding yeast is regulated by numerous genes and has several aspects that are physiologically significant.

Distinct 'safe zones' at the nuclear envelope ensure robust replication of heterochromatic chromosome regions

Chromosome replication and transcription occur within a complex nuclear milieu whose functional subdomains are beginning to be mapped out. Here we delineate distinct domains of the fission yeast nuclear envelope (NE), focusing on regions enriched for the inner NE protein, Bqt4, or the lamin interacting domain protein, Lem2. Bqt4 is relatively mobile around the NE and acts in two capacities. First, Bqt4 tethers chromosome termini and the mat locus to the NE specifically while these regions are replicating. This positioning is required for accurate heterochromatin replication. Second, Bqt4 mobilizes a subset of Lem2 molecules around the NE to promote pericentric heterochromatin maintenance. Opposing Bqt4-dependent Lem2 mobility are factors that stabilize Lem2 beneath the centrosome, where Lem2 plays a crucial role in kinetochore maintenance. Our data prompt a model in which Bqt4-rich nuclear subdomains are 'safe zones' in which collisions between transcription and replication are averted and heterochromatin is reassembled faithfully.

Structural Basis for the Recruitment of Ctf18-RFC to the Replisome

Ctf18-RFC is an alternative PCNA loader which plays important but poorly understood roles in multiple DNA replication-associated processes. To fulfill its specialist roles, the Ctf18-RFC clamp loader contains a unique module in which the Dcc1-Ctf8 complex is bound to the C terminus of Ctf18 (the Ctf18-1-8 module). Here, we report the structural and functional characterization of the heterotetrameric complex formed between Ctf18-1-8 and a 63 kDa fragment of DNA polymerase ɛ. Our data reveal that Ctf18-1-8 binds stably to the polymerase and far from its other functional sites, suggesting that Ctf18-RFC could be associated with Pol ɛ throughout normal replication as the leading strand clamp loader. We also show that Pol ɛ and double-stranded DNA compete to bind the same winged-helix domain on Dcc1, with Pol ɛ being the preferred binding partner, thus suggesting that there are two alternative pathways to recruit Ctf18-RFC to sites of replication.

Human CTF18-RFC clamp-loader complexed with non-synthesising DNA polymerase ε efficiently loads the PCNA sliding clamp

The alternative proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-loader CTF18-RFC forms a stable complex with DNA polymerase ε (Polε). We observed that, under near-physiological conditions, CTF18-RFC alone loaded PCNA inefficiently, but loaded it efficiently when complexed with Polε. During efficient PCNA loading, CTF18-RFC and Polε assembled at a 3΄ primer–template junction cooperatively, and directed PCNA to the loading site. Site-specific photo-crosslinking of directly interacting proteins at the primer–template junction showed similar cooperative binding, in which the catalytic N-terminal portion of Polε acted as the major docking protein. In the PCNA-loading intermediate with ATPγS, binding of CTF18 to the DNA structures increased, suggesting transient access of CTF18-RFC to the primer terminus. Polε placed in DNA synthesis mode using a substrate DNA with a deoxidised 3΄ primer end did not stimulate PCNA loading, suggesting that DNA synthesis and PCNA loading are mutually exclusive at the 3΄ primer–template junction. Furthermore, PCNA and CTF18-RFC–Polε complex engaged in stable trimeric assembly on the template DNA and synthesised DNA efficiently. Thus, CTF18-RFC appears to be involved in leading-strand DNA synthesis through its interaction with Polε, and can load PCNA onto DNA when Polε is not in DNA synthesis mode to restore DNA synthesis.

Structural studies of RFCCtf18 reveal a novel chromatin recruitment role for Dcc1

Replication factor C complexes load and unload processivity clamps from DNA and are involved in multiple DNA replication and repair pathways. The RFCCtf18 variant complex is required for activation of the intra-S-phase checkpoint at stalled replication forks and aids the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion. Unlike other RFC complexes, RFCCtf18 contains two non-Rfc subunits, Dcc1 and Ctf8. Here, we present the crystal structure of the Dcc1-Ctf8 heterodimer bound to the C-terminus of Ctf18. We find that the C-terminus of Dcc1 contains three-winged helix domains, which bind to both ssDNA and dsDNA We further show that these domains are required for full recruitment of the complex to chromatin, and correct activation of the replication checkpoint. These findings provide the first structural data on a eukaryotic seven-subunit clamp loader and define a new biochemical activity for Dcc1.

Control of Genome Integrity by RFC Complexes; Conductors of PCNA Loading onto and Unloading from Chromatin during DNA Replication

During cell division, genome integrity is maintained by faithful DNA replication during S phase, followed by accurate segregation in mitosis. Many DNA metabolic events linked with DNA replication are also regulated throughout the cell cycle. In eukaryotes, the DNA sliding clamp, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), acts on chromatin as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases. Since its discovery, many other PCNA binding partners have been identified that function during DNA replication, repair, recombination, chromatin remodeling, cohesion, and proteolysis in cell-cycle progression. PCNA not only recruits the proteins involved in such events, but it also actively controls their function as chromatin assembles. Therefore, control of PCNA-loading onto chromatin is fundamental for various replication-coupled reactions. PCNA is loaded onto chromatin by PCNA-loading replication factor C (RFC) complexes. Both RFC1-RFC and Ctf18-RFC fundamentally function as PCNA loaders. On the other hand, after DNA synthesis, PCNA must be removed from chromatin by Elg1-RFC. Functional defects in RFC complexes lead to chromosomal abnormalities. In this review, we summarize the structural and functional relationships among RFC complexes, and describe how the regulation of PCNA loading/unloading by RFC complexes contributes to maintaining genome integrity.

Alternative clamp loaders/unloaders

Each time a cell duplicates, the whole genome must be accurately copied and distributed. The enormous amount of DNA in eukaryotic cells requires a high level of coordination between polymerases and other DNA and chromatin-interacting proteins to ensure timely and accurate DNA replication and chromatin formation. PCNA forms a ring that encircles the DNA. It serves as a processivity factor for DNA polymerases and as a landing platform for different proteins that interact with DNA and chromatin. It thus serves as a signaling hub and influences the rate and accuracy of DNA replication, the r-formation of chromatin in the wake of the moving fork and the proper segregation of the sister chromatids. Four different, conserved, protein complexes are in charge of loading/unloading PCNA and similar molecules onto DNA. Replication factor C (RFC) is the canonical complex in charge of loading PCNA, the replication clamp, during S-phase. The Rad24, Ctf18 and Elg1 proteins form complexes similar to RFC, with particular functions in the cell's nucleus. Here we summarize our current knowledge about the roles of these important factors in yeast.

The yeast telomerase RNA, TLC1, participates in two distinct modes of TLC1-TLC1 association processes in vivo

Telomerase core enzyme minimally consists of the telomerase reverse transcriptase domain-containing protein (Est2 in budding yeast S. cerevisiae) and telomerase RNA, which contains the template specifying the telomeric repeat sequence synthesized. Here we report that in vivo, a fraction of S. cerevisiae telomerase RNA (TLC1) molecules form complexes containing at least two molecules of TLC1, via two separable modes: one requiring a sequence in the 3′ region of the immature TLC1 precursor and the other requiring Ku and Sir4. Such physical TLC1-TLC1 association peaked in G1 phase and did not require telomere silencing, telomere tethering to the nuclear periphery, telomerase holoenzyme assembly, or detectable Est2-Est2 protein association. These data indicate that TLC1-TLC1 associations reflect processes occurring during telomerase biogenesis; we propose that TLC1-TLC1 associations and subsequent reorganization may be regulatory steps in telomerase enzymatic activation.

A conserved Polϵ binding module in Ctf18-RFC is required for S-phase checkpoint activation downstream of Mec1

Defects during chromosome replication in eukaryotes activate a signaling pathway called the S-phase checkpoint, which produces a multifaceted response that preserves genome integrity at stalled DNA replication forks. Work with budding yeast showed that the 'alternative clamp loader' known as Ctf18-RFC acts by an unknown mechanism to activate the checkpoint kinase Rad53, which then mediates much of the checkpoint response. Here we show that budding yeast Ctf18-RFC associates with DNA polymerase epsilon, via an evolutionarily conserved 'Pol ϵ binding module' in Ctf18-RFC that is produced by interaction of the carboxyl terminus of Ctf18 with the Ctf8 and Dcc1 subunits. Mutations at the end of Ctf18 disrupt the integrity of the Pol ϵ binding module and block the S-phase checkpoint pathway, downstream of the Mec1 kinase that is the budding yeast orthologue of mammalian ATR. Similar defects in checkpoint activation are produced by mutations that displace Pol ϵ from the replisome. These findings indicate that the association of Ctf18-RFC with Pol ϵ at defective replication forks is a key step in activation of the S-phase checkpoint.

Nuclear envelope and chromatin, lock and key of genome integrity

More than as an inert separation between the inside and outside of the nucleus, the nuclear envelope (NE) constitutes an active toll, which controls the import and export of molecules, and also a hub for a diversity of genomic processes, such as transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin dynamics. Proteins localized at the inner surface of the NE (such as lamins, nuclear pore proteins, lamin-associated proteins) interact with chromatin in a dynamic manner, contributing to the establishment of topological domains. In this review, we address the complex interplay between chromatin and NE. We discuss the divergence of this cross talk during evolution and comment both on the current established models and the most recent findings. In particular, we focus our attention on how the NE cooperates with chromatin in protecting the genome integrity.

At short telomeres Tel1 directs early replication and phosphorylates Rif1

The replication time of Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomeres responds to TG1-3 repeat length, with telomeres of normal length replicating late during S phase and short telomeres replicating early. Here we show that Tel1 kinase, which is recruited to short telomeres, specifies their early replication, because we find a tel1Δ mutant has short telomeres that nonetheless replicate late. Consistent with a role for Tel1 in driving early telomere replication, initiation at a replication origin close to an induced short telomere was reduced in tel1Δ cells, in an S phase blocked by hydroxyurea. The telomeric chromatin component Rif1 mediates late replication of normal telomeres and is a potential substrate of Tel1 phosphorylation, so we tested whether Tel1 directs early replication of short telomeres by inactivating Rif1. A strain lacking both Rif1 and Tel1 behaves like a rif1Δ mutant by replicating its telomeres early, implying that Tel1 can counteract the delaying effect of Rif1 to control telomere replication time. Proteomic analyses reveals that in yku70Δ cells that have short telomeres, Rif1 is phosphorylated at Tel1 consensus sequences (S/TQ sites), with phosphorylation of Serine-1308 being completely dependent on Tel1. Replication timing analysis of a strain mutated at these phosphorylation sites, however, suggested that Tel1-mediated phosphorylation of Rif1 is not the sole mechanism of replication timing control at telomeres. Overall, our results reveal two new functions of Tel1 at shortened telomeres: phosphorylation of Rif1, and specification of early replication by counteracting the Rif1-mediated delay in initiation at nearby replication origins.

Protein phosphatase 1 recruitment by Rif1 regulates DNA replication origin firing by counteracting DDK activity

The firing of eukaryotic origins of DNA replication requires CDK and DDK kinase activities. DDK, in particular, is involved in setting the temporal program of origin activation, a conserved feature of eukaryotes. Rif1, originally identified as a telomeric protein, was recently implicated in specifying replication timing in yeast and mammals. We show that this function of Rif1 depends on its interaction with PP1 phosphatases. Mutations of two PP1 docking motifs in Rif1 lead to early replication of telomeres in budding yeast and misregulation of origin firing in fission yeast. Several lines of evidence indicate that Rif1/PP1 counteract DDK activity on the replicative MCM helicase. Our data suggest that the PP1/Rif1 interaction is downregulated by the phosphorylation of Rif1, most likely by CDK/DDK. These findings elucidate the mechanism of action of Rif1 in the control of DNA replication and demonstrate a role of PP1 phosphatases in the regulation of origin firing.

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Rif1 recruits protein phosphatase 1 to telomeres and DNA replication origins

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PP1 docking motifs mediate the effect of Rif1 on DNA replication timing

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The PP1 recruitment activity of Rif1 counteracts DDK action on Mcm4

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Mutations in putative CDK/DDK sites near the PP1 motifs in Rif1 affect PP1 recruitment

The Ctf18RFC clamp loader is essential for telomere stability in telomerase-negative and mre11 mutant alleles

The function of the replication clamp loaders in the semi-conservative telomere replication and their relationship to telomerase- and recombination mechanisms of telomere addition remains ambiguous. We have investigated the variant clamp loader Ctf18 RFC (Replication Factor C). To understand the role of Ctf18 at the telomere, we first investigated genetic interactions after loss of Ctf18 and TLC1 (the yeast telomerase RNA). We find that the tlc1Δ ctf18Δ double mutant confers a rapid >1000-fold decrease in viability. The rate of loss was similar to the kinetics of cell death in rad52Δ tlc1Δ cells. However, the Ctf18 pathway is distinct from Rad52, required for the repair of DSBs, as demonstrated by the synthetic lethality of rad52▵ tlc1Δ ctf18Δ triple mutants. These data suggest that each mutant elicits non-redundant defects acting on the same substrate. Second, interactions of the yeast hyper-recombinational mutant, mre11A470T, with ctf18▵ confer a synergistic cold sensitivity. The phenotype of these double mutants ultimately results in telomere loss and the generation of recombinational survivors. We observed a similar synergism between single mutants that led to hypersensitivity to the DNA alkylating agent, methane methyl sulphonate (MMS), the replication fork inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU), and to a failure to separate telomeres of sister chromatids. Hence, ctf18Δ and mre11A470T act in different pathways on telomere substrates for multiple phenotypes. The mre11A470T cells also displayed a DNA damage response (DDR) at 15°C but not at 30°C while ctf18Δ mutants conferred a constitutive DDR activity. Both the 15°C DDR pattern and growth rate were reversible at 30°C and displayed telomerase activity in vivo. We hypothesize that Ctf18 confers protection against stalling and/or breaks at the replication fork in cells that either lack, or are compromised for, telomerase activity. This Ctf18-based function is likely to contribute another level to telomere size homeostasis.

Time to be versatile: regulation of the replication timing program in budding yeast

Eukaryotic replication origins are activated at different times during the S phase of the cell cycle, following a temporal program that is stably transmitted to daughter cells. Although the mechanisms that control initiation at the level of individual origins are now well understood, much less is known on how cells coordinate replication at hundreds of origins distributed on the chromosomes. In this review, we discuss recent advances shedding new light on how this complex process is regulated in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The picture that emerges from these studies is that replication timing is regulated in cis by mechanisms modulating the chromatin structure and the subnuclear organization of origins. These mechanisms do not affect the licensing of replication origins but determine their ability to compete for limiting initiation factors, which are recycled from early to late origins throughout the length of the S phase.

SIR proteins and the assembly of silent chromatin in budding yeast

Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides a well-studied model system for heritable silent chromatin in which a histone-binding protein complex [the SIR (silent information regulator) complex] represses gene transcription in a sequence-independent manner by spreading along nucleosomes, much like heterochromatin in higher eukaryotes. Recent advances in the biochemistry and structural biology of the SIR-chromatin system bring us much closer to a molecular understanding of yeast silent chromatin. Simultaneously, genome-wide approaches have shed light on the biological importance of this form of epigenetic repression. Here, we integrate genetic, structural, and cell biological data into an updated overview of yeast silent chromatin assembly.

DNA replication timing

Patterns of replication within eukaryotic genomes correlate with gene expression, chromatin structure, and genome evolution. Recent advances in genome-scale mapping of replication kinetics have allowed these correlations to be explored in many species, cell types, and growth conditions, and these large data sets have allowed quantitative and computational analyses. One striking new correlation to emerge from these analyses is between replication timing and the three-dimensional structure of chromosomes. This correlation, which is significantly stronger than with any single histone modification or chromosome-binding protein, suggests that replication timing is controlled at the level of chromosomal domains. This conclusion dovetails with parallel work on the heterogeneity of origin firing and the competition between origins for limiting activators to suggest a model in which the stochastic probability of individual origin firing is modulated by chromosomal domain structure to produce patterns of replication. Whether these patterns have inherent biological functions or simply reflect higher-order genome structure is an open question.

Is PCNA unloading the central function of the Elg1/ATAD5 replication factor C-like complex?

Maintaining genome stability is crucial for all cells. The budding yeast Elg1 protein, the major subunit of a replication factor C-like complex, is important for genome stability, since cells lacking Elg1 exhibit increased recombination and chromosomal rearrangements. This genome maintenance function of Elg1 seems to be conserved in higher eukaryotes, since removal of the human Elg1 homolog, encoded by the ATAD5 gene, also causes genome instability leading to tumorigenesis. The fundamental molecular function of the Elg1/ATAD5-replication factor C-like complex (RLC) was, until recently, elusive, although Elg1/ATAD5-RLC was known to interact with the replication sliding clamp PCNA. Two papers have now reported that following DNA replication, the Elg1/ATAD5-RLC is required to remove PCNA from chromatin in yeast and human cells. In this Review, we summarize the evidence that Elg1/ATAD5-RLC acts as a PCNA unloader and discuss the still enigmatic relationship between the function of Elg1/ATAD5-RLC in PCNA unloading and the role of Elg1/ATAD5 in maintaining genomic stability.

A role for the nucleoporin Nup170p in chromatin structure and gene silencing

Embedded in the nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) not only regulate nuclear transport but also interface with transcriptionally active euchromatin, largely silenced heterochromatin, as well as the boundaries between these regions. It is unclear what functional role NPCs play in establishing or maintaining these distinct chromatin domains. We report that the yeast NPC protein Nup170p interacts with regions of the genome that contain ribosomal protein and subtelomeric genes, where it functions in nucleosome positioning and as a repressor of transcription. We show that the role of Nup170p in subtelomeric gene silencing is linked to its association with the RSC chromatin-remodeling complex and the silencing factor Sir4p, and that the binding of Nup170p and Sir4p to subtelomeric chromatin is cooperative and necessary for the association of telomeres with the nuclear envelope. Our results establish the NPC as an active participant in silencing and the formation of peripheral heterochromatin.

Eukaryotic replisome components cooperate to process histones during chromosome replication

DNA unwinding at eukaryotic replication forks displaces parental histones, which must be redeposited onto nascent DNA in order to preserve chromatin structure. By screening systematically for replisome components that pick up histones released from chromatin into a yeast cell extract, we found that the Mcm2 helicase subunit binds histones cooperatively with the FACT (facilitiates chromatin transcription) complex, which helps to re-establish chromatin during transcription. FACT does not associate with the Mcm2-7 helicase at replication origins during G1 phase but is subsequently incorporated into the replisome progression complex independently of histone binding and uniquely among histone chaperones. The amino terminal tail of Mcm2 binds histones via a conserved motif that is dispensable for DNA synthesis per se but helps preserve subtelomeric chromatin, retain the 2 micron minichromosome, and support growth in the absence of Ctf18-RFC. Our data indicate that the eukaryotic replication and transcription machineries use analogous assemblies of multiple chaperones to preserve chromatin integrity.

Location, location, location: it's all in the timing for replication origins

The differential replication timing of eukaryotic replication origins has long been linked with epigenetic regulation of gene expression and more recently with genome stability and mutation rates; however, the mechanism has remained obscure. Recent studies have shed new light by identifying novel factors that determine origin timing in yeasts and mammalian cells and implicate the spatial organization of origins within nuclear territories in the mechanism. These new insights, along with recent findings that several initiation factors are limiting relative to licensed origins, support and shape an emerging model for replication timing control. The mechanisms that control the spatial organization of replication origins have potential impacts for genome regulation beyond replication.

Functional centromeres determine the activation time of pericentric origins of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The centromeric regions of all Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomes are found in early replicating domains, a property conserved among centromeres in fungi and some higher eukaryotes. Surprisingly, little is known about the biological significance or the mechanism of early centromere replication; however, the extensive conservation suggests that it is important for chromosome maintenance. Do centromeres ensure their early replication by promoting early activation of nearby origins, or have they migrated over evolutionary time to reside in early replicating regions? In Candida albicans, a neocentromere contains an early firing origin, supporting the first hypothesis but not addressing whether the new origin is intrinsically early firing or whether the centromere influences replication time. Because the activation time of individual origins is not an intrinsic property of S. cerevisiae origins, but is influenced by surrounding sequences, we sought to test the hypothesis that centromeres influence replication time by moving a centromere to a late replication domain. We used a modified Meselson-Stahl density transfer assay to measure the kinetics of replication for regions of chromosome XIV in which either the functional centromere or a point-mutated version had been moved near origins that reside in a late replication region. We show that a functional centromere acts in cis over a distance as great as 19 kb to advance the initiation time of origins. Our results constitute a direct link between establishment of the kinetochore and the replication initiation machinery, and suggest that the proposed higher-order structure of the pericentric chromatin influences replication initiation.

Genome duplication requires the orderly initiation of DNA synthesis at sites called origins of replication. It has long been known that different origins become active at different times in S-phase (the period during which cells duplicate their chromosomes). Although such temporal regulation of replication is broadly conserved among eukaryotes, how this regional control of replication time occurs largely remains a mystery. The early replication of baker's yeast centromeres (genetic elements essential for proper segregation of chromosomes during cell division) is one frequently cited example of temporal regulation, yet the biological significance of early centromere replication also remains speculative. Increasing evidence suggests that early centromere replication is a conserved feature of the DNA replication program across many species. Here, we show that centromeres in this yeast can advance the time at which origins in their genomic neighborhood initiate DNA replication. The distance over which centromeres can influence origin activation time extends up to 19 kilobases. We further show that centromere-mediated early origin activation depends on the centromere's ability to recruit at least a subset of the proteins needed for chromosome segregation. This study thus provides the first direct functional link between kinetochore establishment and the mechanisms of DNA replication initiation.

TFIIIC localizes budding yeast ETC sites to the nuclear periphery

Eukaryotic genomes contain multiple extra TFIIIC (ETC) sites that bind the TFIIIC transcription factor without recruiting RNA polymerase. TFIIIC directs the localization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ETC sites to the nuclear periphery. Remarkably, however, perinuclear localization is not required for ETC sites to act as chromatin boundaries.

Chromatin function requires specific three-dimensional architectures of chromosomes. We investigated whether Saccharomyces cerevisiae extra TFIIIC (ETC) sites, which bind the TFIIIC transcription factor but do not recruit RNA polymerase III, show specific intranuclear positioning. We show that six of the eight known S. cerevisiae ETC sites localize predominantly at the nuclear periphery, and that ETC sites retain their tethering function when moved to a new chromosomal location. Several lines of evidence indicate that TFIIIC is central to the ETC peripheral localization mechanism. Mutating or deleting the TFIIIC-binding consensus ablated ETC -site peripheral positioning, and inducing degradation of the TFIIIC subunit Tfc3 led to rapid release of an ETC site from the nuclear periphery. We find, moreover, that anchoring one TFIIIC subunit at an ectopic chromosomal site causes recruitment of others and drives peripheral tethering. Localization of ETC sites at the nuclear periphery also requires Mps3, a Sad1-UNC-84–domain protein that spans the inner nuclear membrane. Surprisingly, we find that the chromatin barrier and insulator functions of an ETC site do not depend on correct peripheral localization. In summary, TFIIIC and Mps3 together direct the intranuclear positioning of a new class of S. cerevisiae genomic loci positioned at the nuclear periphery.

Genome-wide analysis to identify pathways affecting telomere-initiated senescence in budding yeast

In telomerase-deficient yeast cells, like equivalent mammalian cells, telomeres shorten over many generations until a period of senescence/crisis is reached. After this, a small fraction of cells can escape senescence, principally using recombination-dependent mechanisms. To investigate the pathways that affect entry into and recovery from telomere-driven senescence, we combined a gene deletion disrupting telomerase (est1Δ) with the systematic yeast deletion collection and measured senescence characteristics in high-throughput assays. As expected, the vast majority of gene deletions showed no strong effects on entry into/exit from senescence. However, around 200 gene deletions behaving similarly to a rad52Δest1Δ archetype (rad52Δ affects homologous recombination) accelerated entry into senescence, and such cells often could not recover growth. A smaller number of strains similar to a rif1Δest1Δ archetype (rif1Δ affects proteins that bind telomeres) accelerated entry into senescence but also accelerated recovery from senescence. Our genome-wide analysis identifies genes that affect entry into and/or exit from telomere-initiated senescence and will be of interest to those studying telomere biology, replicative senescence, cancer, and ageing. Our dataset is complementary to other high-throughput studies relevant to telomere biology, genetic stability, and DNA damage responses.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of chromatin reveals that Ctf18 acts in the DNA replication checkpoint

Yeast cells lacking Ctf18, the major subunit of an alternative Replication Factor C complex, have multiple problems with genome stability. To understand the in vivo function of the Ctf18 complex, we analyzed chromatin composition in a ctf18Δ mutant using the quantitative proteomic technique of stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture. Three hundred and seven of the 491 reported chromosomal proteins were quantitated. The most marked abnormalities occurred when cells were challenged with the replication inhibitor hydroxyurea. Compared with wild type, hydroxyurea-treated ctf18Δ cells exhibited increased chromatin association of replisome progression complex components including Cdc45, Ctf4, and GINS complex subunits, the polymerase processivity clamp PCNA and the single-stranded DNA-binding complex RPA. Chromatin composition abnormalities observed in ctf18Δ cells were very similar to those of an mrc1Δ mutant, which is defective in the activating the Rad53 checkpoint kinase in response to DNA replication stress. We found that ctf18Δ cells are also defective in Rad53 activation, revealing that the Ctf18 complex is required for engagement of the DNA replication checkpoint. Inappropriate initiation of replication at late origins, because of loss of the checkpoint, probably causes the elevated level of chromatin-bound replisome proteins in the ctf18Δ mutant. The role of Ctf18 in checkpoint activation is not shared by all Replication Factor C-like complexes, because proteomic analysis revealed that cells lacking Elg1 (the major subunit of a different Replication Factor C-like complex) display a different spectrum of chromatin abnormalities. Identification of Ctf18 as a checkpoint protein highlights the usefulness of chromatin proteomic analysis for understanding the in vivo function of proteins that mediate chromatin transactions.

The effect of Ku on telomere replication time is mediated by telomere length but is independent of histone tail acetylation

Ku controls telomere replication timing. We test the mechanism and find that Ku does not bind telomere-proximal origins directly or alter their histone acetylation state. Instead, Ku's effect on replication timing is mediated through telomere length and requires the TG1-3 repeat-counting component Rif1.

DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae proceeds according to a temporal program. We have investigated the role of the telomere-binding Ku complex in specifying late replication of telomere-proximal sequences. Genome-wide analysis shows that regions extending up to 80 kb from telomeres replicate abnormally early in a yku70 mutant. We find that Ku does not appear to regulate replication time by binding replication origins directly, nor is its effect on telomere replication timing mediated by histone tail acetylation. We show that Ku instead regulates replication timing through its effect on telomere length, because deletion of the telomerase regulator Pif1 largely reverses the short telomere defect of a yku70 mutant and simultaneously rescues its replication timing defect. Consistent with this conclusion, deleting the genome integrity component Elg1 partially rescued both length and replication timing of yku70 telomeres. Telomere length–mediated control of replication timing requires the TG_1–3 repeat-counting component Rif1, because a rif1 mutant replicates telomeric regions early, despite having extended TG_1–3 tracts. Overall, our results suggest that the effect of Ku on telomere replication timing results from its impact on TG_1–3 repeat length and support a model in which Rif1 measures telomere repeat length to ensure that telomere replication timing is correctly programmed.

The budding yeast nucleus

The budding yeast nucleus, like those of other eukaryotic species, is highly organized with respect to both chromosomal sequences and enzymatic activities. At the nuclear periphery interactions of nuclear pores with chromatin, mRNA, and transport factors promote efficient gene expression, whereas centromeres, telomeres, and silent chromatin are clustered and anchored away from pores. Internal nuclear organization appears to be function-dependent, reflecting localized sites for tRNA transcription, rDNA transcription, ribosome assembly, and DNA repair. Recent advances have identified new proteins involved in the positioning of chromatin and have allowed testing of the functional role of higher-order chromatin organization. The unequal distribution of silent information regulatory factors and histone modifying enzymes, which arises in part from the juxtaposition of telomeric repeats, has been shown to influence chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression. Other localization events suppress unwanted recombination. These findings highlight the contribution budding yeast genetics and cytology have made to dissecting the functional role of nuclear structure.

Molecular analysis of the replication program in unicellular model organisms

Eukaryotes have long been reported to show temporal programs of replication, different portions of the genome being replicated at different times in S phase, with the added possibility of developmentally regulated changes in this pattern depending on species and cell type. Unicellular model organisms, primarily the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been central to our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of replication origins and the temporal program of replication in particular. But what exactly is a temporal program of replication, and how might it arise? In this article, we explore this question, drawing again on the wealth of experimental information in unicellular model organisms.

Spatial regulation and organization of DNA replication within the nucleus

Duplication of chromosomal DNA is a temporally and spatially regulated process. The timing of DNA replication initiation at various origins is highly coordinated; some origins fire early and others late during S phase. Moreover, inside the nuclei, the bulk of DNA replication is physically organized in replication factories, consisting of DNA polymerases and other replication proteins. In this review article, we discuss how DNA replication is organized and regulated spatially within the nucleus and how this spatial organization is linked to temporal regulation. We focus on DNA replication in budding yeast and fission yeast and, where applicable, compare yeast DNA replication with that in bacteria and metazoans.

Early initiation of a replication origin tethered at the nuclear periphery

Peripheral nuclear localization of chromosomal loci correlates with late replication in yeast and metazoan cells. To test whether peripheral positioning can impose late replication, we examined whether artificial tethering of an early-initiating replication origin to the nuclear periphery delays its replication in budding yeast. We tested the effects of three different peripheral tethering constructs on the time of replication of the early replication origin ARS607. Using the dense-isotope transfer method to assess replication time, we found that ARS607 still replicates early when tethered to the nuclear periphery using the Yif1 protein or a fragment of Sir4, whereas tethering using a Yku80 construct produces only a very slight replication delay. Single-cell microscopic analysis revealed no correlation between peripheral positioning of ARS607 in individual cells and delayed replication. Overall, our results demonstrate that a replication origin can initiate replication early in S phase, even if artificially relocated to the nuclear periphery.

The ELG1 clamp loader plays a role in sister chromatid cohesion

Mutations in the ELG1 gene of yeast lead to genomic instability, manifested in high levels of genetic recombination, chromosome loss, and gross chromosomal rearrangements. Elg1 shows similarity to the large subunit of the Replication Factor C clamp loader, and forms a RFC-like (RLC) complex in conjunction with the 4 small RFC subunits. Two additional RLCs exist in yeast: in one of them the large subunit is Ctf18, and in the other, Rad24. Ctf18 has been characterized as the RLC that functions in sister chromatid cohesion. Here we present evidence that the Elg1 RLC (but not Rad24) also plays an important role in this process. A genetic screen identified the cohesin subunit Mcd1/Scc1 and its loader Scc2 as suppressors of the synthetic lethality between elg1 and ctf4. We describe genetic interactions between ELG1 and genes encoding cohesin subunits and their accessory proteins. We also show that defects in Elg1 lead to higher precocious sister chromatid separation, and that Ctf18 and Elg1 affect cohesion via a joint pathway. Finally, we localize both Ctf18 and Elg1 to chromatin and show that Elg1 plays a role in the recruitment of Ctf18. Our results suggest that Elg1, Ctf4, and Ctf18 may coordinate the relative movement of the replication fork with respect to the cohesin ring.

Yeast telomerase and the SUN domain protein Mps3 anchor telomeres and repress subtelomeric recombination

Telomeres form the ends of linear chromosomes and protect these ends from being recognized as DNA double-strand breaks. Telomeric sequences are maintained in most cells by telomerase, a reverse transcriptase that adds TG-rich repeats to chromosome ends. In budding yeast, telomeres are organized in clusters at the nuclear periphery by interactions that depend on components of silent chromatin and the telomerase-binding factor yeast Ku (yKu). In this study, we examined whether the subnuclear localization of telomeres affects end maintenance. A telomere anchoring pathway involving the catalytic yeast telomerase subunits Est2, Est1, and Tlc1 is shown to be necessary for the perinuclear anchoring activity of Yku80 during S phase. Additionally, we identify the conserved Sad1-UNC-84 (SUN) domain protein Mps3 as the principal membrane anchor for this pathway. Impaired interference with Mps3 anchoring through overexpression of the Mps3 N terminus in a tel1 deletion background led to a senescence phenotype and to deleterious levels of subtelomeric Y' recombination. This suggests that telomere binding to the nuclear envelope helps protect telomeric repeats from recombination. Our results provide an example of a specialized structure that requires proper spatiotemporal localization to fulfill its biological role, and identifies a novel pathway of telomere protection.

Release of yeast telomeres from the nuclear periphery is triggered by replication and maintained by suppression of Ku-mediated anchoring

The perinuclear localization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomeres provides a useful model for studying mechanisms that control chromosome positioning. Telomeres tend to be localized at the nuclear periphery during early interphase, but following S phase they delocalize and remain randomly positioned within the nucleus. We investigated whether DNA replication causes telomere delocalization from the nuclear periphery. Using live-cell fluorescence microscopy, we show that delaying DNA replication causes a corresponding delay in the dislodgment of telomeres from the nuclear envelope, demonstrating that replication of individual telomeres causes their delocalization. Telomere delocalization is not simply the result of recruitment to a replication factory in the nuclear interior, since we found that telomeric DNA replication can occur either at the nuclear periphery or in the nuclear interior. The telomere-binding complex Ku is one of the factors that localizes telomeres to the nuclear envelope. Using a gene locus tethering assay, we show that Ku-mediated peripheral positioning is switched off after DNA replication. Based on these findings, we propose that DNA replication causes telomere delocalization by triggering stable repression of the Ku-mediated anchoring pathway. In addition to maintaining genetic information, DNA replication may therefore regulate subnuclear organization of chromatin.

Histone H3 lysine 56 acetylation by Rtt109 is crucial for chromosome positioning

Correct intranuclear organization of chromosomes is crucial for many genome functions, but the mechanisms that position chromatin are not well understood. We used a layered screen to identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in telomere localization to the nuclear periphery. We find that events in S phase are crucial for correct telomere localization. In particular, the histone chaperone Asf1 functions in telomere peripheral positioning. Asf1 stimulates acetylation of histone H3 lysine 56 (H3K56) by the histone acetyltransferase Rtt109. Analysis of rtt109Δ and H3K56 mutants suggests that the acetylation/deacetylation cycle of the H3K56 residue is required for proper telomere localization. The function of H3K56 acetylation in localizing chromosome domains is not confined to telomeres because deletion of RTT109 also prevents the correct peripheral localization of a newly identified S. cerevisiae “chromosome-organizing clamp” locus. Because chromosome positioning is subject to epigenetic inheritance, H3K56 acetylation may mediate correct chromosome localization by facilitating accurate transmission of chromatin status during DNA replication.

Differential nuclear localization does not determine the silencing status of Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomeres

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genes near telomeres are transcriptionally repressed, a phenomenon termed telomere position effect (TPE). Yeast telomeres cluster near the nuclear periphery, as do foci of proteins essential for TPE: Rap1p, Sir2-4p, and yKu70p/yKu80p. However, it is not clear if localization of telomeres to the periphery actually contributes to TPE. We examined the localization patterns of two telomeres with different levels of TPE: truncated VII-L and native VI-R. For both telomeres, localization to the nuclear periphery or to the silencing foci was neither necessary nor sufficient for TPE. Moreover, there was no correlation between TPE levels and the extent of localization. Tethering the truncated VII-L telomere to the nuclear periphery resulted in a modest increase in TPE. However, tethering did not bypass the roles of yKu70p, Sir4p, or Esc1p in TPE. Using mutations in RIF genes that bypass the role of Ku in TPE, a correlation between the level of silencing and the number of Rap1p foci present in the nucleus was observed, suggesting that Sir protein levels at telomeres determine both the level of TPE and the number of foci.

Controlled exchange of chromosomal arms reveals principles driving telomere interactions in yeast

The 32 telomeres in the budding yeast genome cluster in three to seven perinuclear foci. Although individual telomeres and telomeric foci are in constant motion, preferential juxtaposition of some telomeres has been scored. To examine the principles that guide such long-range interactions, we differentially tagged pairs of chromosome ends and developed an automated three-dimensional measuring tool that determines distances between two telomeres. In yeast, all chromosomal ends terminate in TG(1-3) and middle repetitive elements, yet subgroups of telomeres also share extensive homology in subtelomeric coding domains. We find that up to 21 kb of >90% sequence identity does not promote telomere pairing in interphase cells. To test whether unique sequence elements, arm length, or chromosome territories influence juxtaposition, we reciprocally swapped terminal domains or entire chromosomal arms from one chromosome to another. We find that the distal 10 kb of Tel6R promotes interaction with Tel6L, yet only when the two telomeres are present on the same chromosome. By manipulating the length and sequence composition of the right arm of chr 5, we confirm that contact between telomeres on opposite chromatid arms of equal length is favored. These results can be explained by the polarized Rabl arrangement of yeast centromeres and telomeres, which promote to telomere pairing by allowing contact between chromosome arms of equal length in anaphase.

How telomeres are replicated

The replication of the ends of linear chromosomes, or telomeres, poses unique problems, which must be solved to maintain genome integrity and to allow cell division to occur. Here, we describe and compare the timing and specific mechanisms that are required to initiate, control and coordinate synthesis of the leading and lagging strands at telomeres in yeasts, ciliates and mammals. Overall, it emerges that telomere replication relies on a strong synergy between the conventional replication machinery, telomere protection systems, DNA-damage-response pathways and chromosomal organization.

Mdt1 facilitates efficient repair of blocked DNA double-strand breaks and recombinational maintenance of telomeres

DNA recombination plays critical roles in DNA repair and alternative telomere maintenance. Here we show that absence of the SQ/TQ cluster domain-containing protein Mdt1 (Ybl051c) renders Saccharomyces cerevisiae particularly hypersensitive to bleomycin, a drug that causes 3'-phospho-glycolate-blocked DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). mdt1Delta also hypersensitizes partially recombination-defective cells to camptothecin-induced 3'-phospho-tyrosyl protein-blocked DSBs. Remarkably, whereas mdt1Delta cells are unable to restore broken chromosomes after bleomycin treatment, they efficiently repair "clean" endonuclease-generated DSBs. Epistasis analyses indicate that MDT1 acts in the repair of bleomycin-induced DSBs by regulating the efficiency of the homologous recombination pathway as well as telomere-related functions of the KU complex. Moreover, mdt1Delta leads to severe synthetic growth defects with a deletion of the recombination facilitator and telomere-positioning factor gene CTF18 already in the absence of exogenous DNA damage. Importantly, mdt1Delta causes a dramatic shift from the usually prevalent type II to the less-efficient type I pathway of recombinational telomere maintenance in the absence of telomerase in liquid senescence assays. As telomeres resemble protein-blocked DSBs, the results indicate that Mdt1 acts in a novel blocked-end-specific recombination pathway that is required for the efficiency of both drug-induced DSB repair and telomerase-independent telomere maintenance.

The nuclear envelope and transcriptional control

Cells have evolved sophisticated multi-protein complexes that can regulate gene activity at various steps of the transcription process. Recent advances highlight the role of nuclear positioning in the control of gene expression and have put nuclear envelope components at centre stage. On the inner face of the nuclear envelope, active genes localize to nuclear-pore structures whereas silent chromatin localizes to non-pore sites. Nuclear-pore components seem to not only recruit the RNA-processing and RNA-export machinery, but contribute a level of regulation that might enhance gene expression in a heritable manner.

The Caenorhabditis elegans Rad17 homolog HPR-17 is required for telomere replication

Subunits of the Rad9/Rad1/Hus1 (9-1-1) proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PNCA)-like sliding clamp are required for DNA damage responses and telomerase-mediated telomere replication in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. PCNA sliding clamps are loaded onto DNA by a replication factor C (RFC) clamp loader. The C. elegans Rad17 RFC clamp loader homolog, hpr-17, functions in the same pathway as the 9-1-1 complex with regard to both the DNA damage response and telomerase-mediated telomere elongation. Thus, hpr-17 defines an RFC-like complex that facilitates telomerase activity in vivo in C. elegans.