A novel DNA nuclease is stimulated by association with the GINS complex

Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Aug;39(14):6114-23. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr181. Epub 2011 Mar 31.

Abstract

Chromosomal DNA replication requires the spatial and temporal coordination of the activities of several complexes that constitute the replisome. A previously uncharacterized protein, encoded by TK1252 in the archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis, was shown to stably interact with the archaeal GINS complex in vivo, a central component of the archaeal replisome. Here, we document that this protein (TK1252p) is a processive, single-strand DNA-specific exonuclease that degrades DNA in the 5' → 3' direction. TK1252p binds specifically to the GINS15 subunit of T. kodakaraensis GINS complex and this interaction stimulates the exonuclease activity in vitro. This novel archaeal nuclease, designated GINS-associated nuclease (GAN), also forms a complex in vivo with the euryarchaeal-specific DNA polymerase D. Roles for GAN in replisome assembly and DNA replication are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Archaeal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Archaeal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / isolation & purification
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / metabolism
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / isolation & purification
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism*
  • Thermococcus / enzymology

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases