Mechanisms restricting DNA replication to once per cell cycle: MCMS, pre-replicative complexes and kinases

Abstract

An important aspect of cell behaviour is that DNA replication happens only once per cell cycle. Replicated DNA is unable to re-replicate until cell division has occurred. Unreplicated DNA is in a replication-competent or 'licensed' state. The ability to replicate is lost in S phase and regained following passage through mitosis. Recent evidence has implicated an MCM (minichromosome maintenance) protein complex and the Cdc6 protein in determining replication competence. Regeneration of replication competence upon passage through mitosis entails changes in protein kinase activity, of which the MCMs are a likely target. Features of the mechanism that restricts DNA replication to once per cell cycle appear to be conserved throughout eukaryotes.