Homeotic proteins participate in the function of human-DNA replication origins

Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 Dec;38(22):8105-19. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkq688. Epub 2010 Aug 6.

Abstract

Recent evidence points to homeotic proteins as actors in the crosstalk between development and DNA replication. The present work demonstrates that HOXC13, previously identified as a new member of human DNA replicative complexes, is a stable component of early replicating chromatin in living cells: it displays a slow nuclear dynamics due to its anchoring to the DNA minor groove via the arginine-5 residue of the homeodomain. HOXC13 binds in vivo to the lamin B2 origin in a cell-cycle-dependent manner consistent with origin function; the interaction maps with nucleotide precision within the replicative complex. HOXC13 displays in vitro affinity for other replicative complex proteins; it interacts also in vivo with the same proteins in a cell-cycle-dependent fashion. Chromatin-structure modifying treatments, disturbing origin function, reduce also HOXC13-origin interaction. The described interactions are not restricted to a single origin nor to a single homeotic protein (also HOXC10 binds the lamin B2 origin in vivo). Thus, HOX complexes probably contribute in a general, structure-dependent manner, to origin identification and assembly of replicative complexes thereon, in presence of specific chromatin configurations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Homeodomain Proteins / analysis
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lamin Type B / analysis
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Replication Origin*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Lamin Type B