Structural highlights
Function
RFC1_YEAST Component of the ATP-dependent clamp loader RFC complex for the POL30/PCNA homotrimer DNA clamp. During a clamp loading circle, the RFC:clamp complex binds to DNA and the recognition of the double-stranded/single-stranded junction stimulates ATP hydrolysis by RFC. The complex presumably provides bipartite ATP sites in which one subunit supplies a catalytic site for hydrolysis of ATP bound to the neighboring subunit. Dissociation of RFC from the clamp leaves the clamp encircling DNA. Replication factor C (RFC or activator 1) complex acts during elongation of primed DNA templates by DNA polymerase delta and epsilon. RFC has an essential but redundant activity in sister chromatid cohesion establishment.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
RFC uses ATP to assemble PCNA onto primed sites for replicative DNA polymerases delta and epsilon. The RFC pentamer forms a central chamber that binds 3' ss/ds DNA junctions to load PCNA onto DNA during replication. We show here five structures that identify a second DNA binding site in RFC that binds a 5' duplex. This 5' DNA site is located between the N-terminal BRCT domain and AAA+ module of the large Rfc1 subunit. Our structures reveal ideal binding to a 7-nt gap, which includes 2 bp unwound by the clamp loader. Biochemical studies show enhanced binding to 5 and 10 nt gaps, consistent with the structural results. Because both 3' and 5' ends are present at a ssDNA gap, we propose that the 5' site facilitates RFC's PCNA loading activity at a DNA damage-induced gap to recruit gap-filling polymerases. These findings are consistent with genetic studies showing that base excision repair of gaps greater than 1 base requires PCNA and involves the 5' DNA binding domain of Rfc1. We further observe that a 5' end facilitates PCNA loading at an RPA coated 30-nt gap, suggesting a potential role of the RFC 5'-DNA site in lagging strand DNA synthesis.
Cryo-EM structures reveal that RFC recognizes both the 3'- and 5'-DNA ends to load PCNA onto gaps for DNA repair.,Zheng F, Georgescu R, Yao NY, Li H, O'Donnell ME Elife. 2022 Jul 13;11:e77469. doi: 10.7554/eLife.77469. PMID:35829698[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Zheng F, Georgescu R, Yao NY, Li H, O'Donnell ME. Cryo-EM structures reveal that RFC recognizes both the 3'- and 5'-DNA ends to load PCNA onto gaps for DNA repair. Elife. 2022 Jul 13;11. pii: 77469. doi: 10.7554/eLife.77469. PMID:35829698 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.77469
