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Mechanism of head-to-head MCM double-hexamer formation revealed by cryo-EM

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas C. R. Miller

    (Francis Crick Institute)

  • Julia Locke

    (Francis Crick Institute)

  • Julia F. Greiwe

    (Francis Crick Institute)

  • John F. X. Diffley

    (Francis Crick Institute)

  • Alessandro Costa

    (Francis Crick Institute)

Abstract

In preparation for bidirectional DNA replication, the origin recognition complex (ORC) loads two hexameric MCM helicases to form a head-to-head double hexamer around DNA1,2. The mechanism of MCM double-hexamer formation is debated. Single-molecule experiments have suggested a sequential mechanism, in which the ORC-dependent loading of the first hexamer drives the recruitment of the second hexamer3. By contrast, biochemical data have shown that two rings are loaded independently via the same ORC-mediated mechanism, at two inverted DNA sites4,5. Here we visualize MCM loading using time-resolved electron microscopy, and identify intermediates in the formation of the double hexamer. We confirm that both hexamers are recruited via the same interaction that occurs between ORC and the C-terminal domains of the MCM helicases. Moreover, we identify the mechanism of coupled MCM loading. The loading of the first MCM hexamer around DNA creates a distinct interaction site, which promotes the engagement of ORC at the N-terminal homodimerization interface of MCM. In this configuration, ORC is poised to direct the recruitment of the second hexamer in an inverted orientation, which is suitable for the formation of the double hexamer. Our results therefore reconcile the two apparently contrasting models derived from single-molecule experiments and biochemical data.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas C. R. Miller & Julia Locke & Julia F. Greiwe & John F. X. Diffley & Alessandro Costa, 2019. "Mechanism of head-to-head MCM double-hexamer formation revealed by cryo-EM," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7784), pages 704-710, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:575:y:2019:i:7784:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1768-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1768-0
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Marten Schmidt & Ran Yang & Ashish Kumar & Olivia Hunker & Jan Seebacher & Franziska Bleichert, 2022. "A mechanism of origin licensing control through autoinhibition of S. cerevisiae ORC·DNA·Cdc6," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. L. Maximilian Reuter & Sanjay P. Khadayate & Audrey Mossler & Korbinian Liebl & Sarah V. Faull & Mohammad M. Karimi & Christian Speck, 2024. "MCM2-7 loading-dependent ORC release ensures genome-wide origin licensing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Zhichun Xu & Jianrong Feng & Daqi Yu & Yunjing Huo & Xiaohui Ma & Wai Hei Lam & Zheng Liu & Xiang David Li & Toyotaka Ishibashi & Shangyu Dang & Yuanliang Zhai, 2023. "Synergism between CMG helicase and leading strand DNA polymerase at replication fork," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Daniel Ramírez Montero & Humberto Sánchez & Edo Veen & Theo Laar & Belén Solano & John F. X. Diffley & Nynke H. Dekker, 2023. "Nucleotide binding halts diffusion of the eukaryotic replicative helicase during activation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Yue Wu & Qiongdan Zhang & Yuhan Lin & Wai Hei Lam & Yuanliang Zhai, 2024. "Replication licensing regulated by a short linear motif within an intrinsically disordered region of origin recognition complex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Humberto Sánchez & Zhaowei Liu & Edo Veen & Theo Laar & John F. X. Diffley & Nynke H. Dekker, 2023. "A chromatinized origin reduces the mobility of ORC and MCM through interactions and spatial constraint," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Hana Polasek-Sedlackova & Thomas C. R. Miller & Jana Krejci & Maj-Britt Rask & Jiri Lukas, 2022. "Solving the MCM paradox by visualizing the scaffold of CMG helicase at active replisomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Sai Li & Michael R. Wasserman & Olga Yurieva & Lu Bai & Michael E. O’Donnell & Shixin Liu, 2022. "Nucleosome-directed replication origin licensing independent of a consensus DNA sequence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Ananya Acharya & Hélène Bret & Jen-Wei Huang & Martin Mütze & Martin Göse & Vera Maria Kissling & Ralf Seidel & Alberto Ciccia & Raphaël Guérois & Petr Cejka, 2024. "Mechanism of DNA unwinding by MCM8-9 in complex with HROB," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.

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