Redundant and differential regulation of multiple licensing factors ensures prevention of re-replication in normal human cells

J Cell Sci. 2009 Apr 15;122(Pt 8):1184-91. doi: 10.1242/jcs.041889.

Abstract

When human cells enter S-phase, overlapping differential inhibitory mechanisms downregulate the replication licensing factors ORC1, CDC6 and Cdt1. Such regulation prevents re-replication so that deregulation of any individual factor alone would not be expected to induce overt re-replication. However, this has been challenged by the fact that overexpression of Cdt1 or Cdt1+CDC6 causes re-replication in some cancer cell lines. We thought it important to analyze licensing regulations in human non-cancerous cells that are resistant to Cdt1-induced re-replication and examined whether simultaneous deregulation of these licensing factors induces re-replication in two such cell lines, including human fibroblasts immortalized by telomerase. Individual overexpression of either Cdt1, ORC1 or CDC6 induced no detectable re-replication. However, with Cdt1+ORC1 or Cdt1+CDC6, some re-replication was detectable and coexpression of Cdt1+ORC1+CDC6 synergistically acted to give strong re-replication with increased mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) loading. Coexpression of ORC1+CDC6 was without effect. These results suggest that, although Cdt1 regulation is the key step, differential regulation of multiple licensing factors ensures prevention of re-replication in normal human cells. Our findings also show for the first time the importance of ORC1 regulation for prevention of re-replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle* / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Origin Recognition Complex / genetics
  • Origin Recognition Complex / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Origin Recognition Complex
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases