Intrinsic nuclear import activity of geminin is essential to prevent re-initiation of DNA replication in Xenopus eggs

Genes Cells. 2005 Jan;10(1):63-73. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2005.00815.x.

Abstract

Prior to S phase, eukaryotic chromosomes are licensed for initiation of DNA replication, and re-licensing is prohibited after S phase has started until late mitosis, thus ensuring that genomic DNA is duplicated precisely once in each cell cycle. Here, we report that over-expression of Cdt1, an essential licensing protein, induced re-replication in Xenopus egg extracts. Geminin, a metazoan-specific inhibitor of Cdt1, was critical for preventing re-replication induced by Cdt1. Re-replication induced by the addition of recombinant Cdt1 and/or by the depletion of geminin from extracts was enhanced by a proteasome inhibitor, which suppressed the degradation of Cdt1 in the extracts. Furthermore, a nuclear localization sequence identified in Xenopus geminin had a significant role in the suppression of re-replication induced by Cdt1. These results suggest that nuclear accumulation of geminin plays a dominant role in the licensing system of Xenopus eggs.

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA Replication*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Geminin
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Oocytes / physiology*
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • Cdt1 protein, Xenopus
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GMNN protein, Xenopus
  • Geminin
  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Xenopus Proteins