Letter abstract
Nature Cell Biology 6, 648 - 655 (2004)
Published online: 27 June 2004 | doi:10.1038/ncb1145
ATR and ATM regulate the timing of DNA replication origin firing
David Shechter1,2,3, Vincenzo Costanzo2 & Jean Gautier2
Timing of DNA replication initiation is dependent on S-phase-promoting kinase (SPK) activity at discrete origins and the simultaneous function of many replicons1, 2. DNA damage prevents origin firing through the ATM- and ATR-dependent inhibition of Cdk2 and Cdc7 SPKs3, 4. Here, we establish that modulation of ATM- and ATR-signalling pathways controls origin firing in the absence of DNA damage. Inhibition of ATM and ATR with caffeine or specific neutralizing antibodies, or upregulation of Cdk2 or Cdc7, promoted rapid and synchronous origin firing; conversely, inhibition of Cdc25A slowed DNA replication. Cdk2 was in equilibrium between active and inactive states, and the concentration of replication protein A (RPA)-bound single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) correlated with Chk1 activation and inhibition of origin firing. Furthermore, ATM was transiently activated during ongoing replication. We propose that ATR and ATM regulate SPK activity through a feedback mechanism originating at active replicons. Our observations establish that ATM- and ATR-signalling pathways operate during an unperturbed cell cycle to regulate initiation and progression of DNA synthesis, and are therefore poised to halt replication in the presence of DNA damage.
- Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biophysical Studies, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Development, Hammer Health Sciences Center Room 1620, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
- Present address: The Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Correspondence to: Jean Gautier2 e-mail: jg130@columbia.edu
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