Replication fork pausing at protein barriers on chromosomes

• Published in: FEBS letters Vol. 593; no. 13; pp. 1449 - 1458
• Main Authors: Hizume, Kohji, Araki, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Chromosomes - genetics; CMG complex; DNA polymerase; DNA Replication; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Fob1; fork pausing; fork protection complex; helicase; Polε; programmed fork arrest; replication fork; replication fork barrier; fork protection complex; replication fork barrier; CMG complex; DNA polymerase; programmed fork arrest; Fob1; fork pausing; replication fork; helicase; Polε
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13481

When a cell divides prior to completion of DNA replication, serious DNA damage may occur. Thus, in addition to accuracy, the processivity of the replication forks is important. DNA synthesis at replication forks should be completed in time, and forks overcome aberrant structures on the template DNA, including damaged sites, using trans‐lesion synthesis, occasionally introducing mutations. By contrast, the protein barrier built on the DNA is known to block the progression of replication forks at specific chromosomal loci. Such protein barriers avert any collision of replication and transcription machineries, or control the recombination of specific loci. The components and the mechanisms of action of protein barriers have been revealed mainly using genetic and biochemical techniques. In addition to proteins involved in replication fork pausing, the interaction of the replicative helicase and DNA polymerase is also essential for replication fork pausing. Here, we provide an overview of replication fork pausing at protein barriers.