The alternative Ctf18-Dcc1-Ctf8-replication factor C complex required for sister chromatid cohesion loads proliferating cell nuclear antigen onto DNA

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Sep 2;100(18):10237-42. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1434308100. Epub 2003 Aug 20.

Abstract

The linkage of sister chromatids after DNA replication ensures the faithful inheritance of chromosomes by daughter cells. In budding yeast, the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion requires Ctf8, Dcc1, and Ctf18, a homologue of the p140 subunit of the replication factor C (RFC). In this report we demonstrate that in 293T cells, Flag-tagged Ctf18 forms a seven-subunit cohesion-RFC complex comprised of Ctf18, Dcc1, Ctf8, RFCp40, RFCp38, RFCp37, and RFCp36 (Ctf18-RFC). We demonstrate that a stoichiometric heteroheptameric Ctf18-RFC complex can be assembled by coexpressing the seven proteins in baculovirus-infected insect cells. In addition, the two other stable subcomplexes were formed, which include a pentameric complex comprised of Ctf18, RFCp40, RFCp38, RFCp37, and RFCp36 and a dimeric Dcc1-Ctf8. Both the five- and seven-subunit Ctf18-RFC complexes bind to single-stranded and primed DNAs and possess weak ATPase activity that is stimulated by the addition of primed DNA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). These complexes catalyzed the ATP-dependent loading of PCNA onto primed and gapped DNA but not onto double-stranded nicked or single-stranded circular DNAs. Consistent with these observations, both Ctf18-RFC complexes substituted for the replicative RFC in the PCNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta-catalyzed DNA replication reaction. These results support a model in which sister chromatid cohesion is linked to DNA replication.

MeSH terms

  • ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatids / physiology*
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • DNA Polymerase III / metabolism
  • DNA Replication*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / metabolism*
  • Replication Protein C

Substances

  • CHTF18 protein, human
  • CHTF8 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • DSCC1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
  • DNA
  • DNA Polymerase III
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities
  • Replication Protein C