The essential cell cycle kinase Dbf4/Cdc7 (DDK) triggers DNA replication through phosphorylation of the Mcm2-7 helicase at replication origins. Prior work has implicated various Mcm2-7 subunits as targets of DDK, however it is not well understood which specific subunits mediate the docking of the DDK complex. Through yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation analyses, we found that Dbf4 and Cdc7 interact with distinct subunits of the Mcm2-7 helicase complex. Dbf4 showed the strongest interaction with Mcm2 while Cdc7 associated with Mcm4 and Mcm5. Dissection of the N-terminal region of Mcm2 revealed two regions that mediate the interaction with Dbf4, whereas in Mcm4, a region near the N-terminus has been previously identified by another group as the DDK docking domain. Mutant forms of Mcm2 (Mcm2ΔDDD) or Mcm4 (Mcm4ΔDDD) lacking the DDK docking domain were expressed in cells and resulted in modest growth and replication defects. Combining the two mutations resulted in synthetic lethality, suggesting a redundant mechanism of Mcm2 and Mcm4 in targeting the DDK complex to Mcm rings. Furthermore, growth inhibition could be induced in a Mcm4ΔDDD background by overexpressing Mcm2 to titrate Dbf4 from Mcm rings. These growth defects were exacerbated in the presence of genotoxic agents such as hydroxyurea and methyl methanesulfonate, suggesting that DDK-Mcm interactions may play a role in stabilizing replication forks under S-phase checkpoint conditions. Regions of Cdc7 were examined for their interaction with Mcm4 and Dbf4. Results have shown that the N-terminal amino acid region 55-124 and the C-terminal region 453-507 of Cdc7 are likely target regions for Dbf4-binding. Several conserved residues were identified within the N-terminal 55-124 Cdc7 region that interface with conserved residues within motif-C of Dbf4. Conserved residues were identified within the DDD domain of Mcm2 and mutating these residues resulted in a decreased interaction with Dbf4. Lastly, bioinformatics analysis has revealed potential conserved residues within the Mcm4DDD region, which may play a role in binding to Cdc7. This research is significant because these factors, which are conserved in all eukaryotes studied to date, should give further insight as to how DNA replication is triggered and how it is affected when cells are exposed to DNA damaging or replication compromising agents. This research also has implications in cancer genetics, as prior studies have shown elevated DDK and Mcm protein levels in tumour cell lines and melanomas, with Cdc7 showing great promise as a cancer therapeutic target. Such knowledge will further enhance our understanding of the DNA replication process and the roles of cell cycle proteins involved, under both normal and checkpoint conditions.

Η διατήρηση της γονιδιωματικής σταθερότητας προϋποθέτει τη σωστή διαδοχή των φάσεων του κυτταρικού κύκλου. Σημαντικό μηχανισμό ελέγχου αποτελεί η αδειοδότηση της αντιγραφής του DNA, η οποία εξασφαλίζει την πλήρη αντιγραφή του γονιδιώματος μία μόνο φορά κατά τη διάρκεια κάθε κυτταρικού κύκλου. Η διαδικασία αυτή λαμβάνει χώρα στο τέλος της μίτωσης και κατά τη φάση G1 και περιλαμβάνει τη συγκρότηση των προ-αντιγραφικών συμπλόκων στις αφετηρίες της αντιγραφής του DNA. Τα σύμπλοκα αυτά απαρτίζονται από τις πρωτεΐνες MCM2-7 οι οποίες έχουν ενεργότητα ελικάσης. Σημαντικό παράγοντα αδειοδότησης αποτελεί η πρωτεΐνη Cdt1, η οποία συσσωρεύεται κατά τη φάση G1 του κυτταρικού κύκλου και απαιτείται για τη στρατολόγηση των ελικασών MCM2-7 στις αφετηρίες της αντιγραφής του DNA. Στα μετάζωα, η πρωτεΐνη Geminin, η οποία εκφράζεται κατά τις φάσεις S, G2 και Μ, αποτελεί αναστολέα του παράγοντα Cdt1 και προσδένεται σε αυτόν παρεμποδίζοντας την αδειοδότηση της αντιγραφής. Αρκετές μελέτες έχουν καταδείξει ότι η εκτοπική υπερέκφραση της πρωτεΐνης Cdt1 επάγει την επανέναρξη της αντιγραφής του DNA και τον υπερδιπλασιασμό του γονιδιώματος συμβάλλοντας στην ογκογένεση. Στο πρώτο μέρος της παρούσας εργασίας μελετήθηκε η έκφραση του παράγοντα Cdt1 σε κλινικά δείγματα όγκων μαστού. Από την ανάλυση διαπιστώθηκε ότι η πρωτεΐνη Cdt1 υπερεκφράζεται στατιστικώς σημαντικά στην περιοχή του όγκου σε σύγκριση με τον παρακείμενο μη νεοπλασματικό ιστό, γεγονός που καταδεικνύει την πιθανή αξία του παράγοντα ως διαγνωστικού βιοδείκτη. Επιπλέον, η υπερέκφραση του συγκεκριμένου παράγοντα δείχθηκε ότι συσχετίζεται αντίστροφα με την παρουσία ή μη οιστρογονικών (ER) και προγεστερονικών υποδοχέων (PR). Επίσης, διαπιστώθηκε στατιστικώς σημαντική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της έκφρασης του παράγοντα Cdt1 και της έκφρασης του δείκτη πολλαπλασιασμού Ki67 καθώς και του υποδοχέα HER2/neu. Οι παρατηρήσεις αυτές υποδηλώνουν ότι ο παράγοντας Cdt1 ενδέχεται να αποτελεί δείκτη άσχημης πρόγνωσης στον όγκο μαστού. Επιπλέον η ανάλυση κατέδειξε σημαντική υπερέκφραση της πρωτεΐνης Cdt1 σε όγκους θετικούς για τον υποδοχέα HER2/neu σε σύγκριση με τα περιστατικά που δεν εξέφραζαν τον υποδοχέα. Δεδομένου ότι στο 95% των περιπτώσεων όγκων μαστού όπου διαπιστώνεται υπερέκφραση του υποδοχέα HER2/neu, αυτή οφείλεται σε ενίσχυση του αντίστοιχου γονιδίου, διερευνήθηκε κατά πόσο η γονιδιακή ενίσχυση θα μπορούσε να αποτελεί λειτουργική επίπτωση της ογκογόνου δράσης του παράγοντα Cdt1 στον όγκο μαστού. Η υπερέκφραση των παραγόντων αδειοδότησης Cdt1 και Cdc6 στις καρκινικές κυτταρικές σειρές HeLa και MCF7 είχε ως αποτέλεσμα την ανάπτυξη ανθεκτικών αποικιών στη μεθοτρεξάτη. Έχει δειχθεί ότι η ανθεκτικότητα στο φάρμακο αυτό οφείλεται κατά κύριο λόγο στη γονιδιακή ενίσχυση του ενζύμου διυδροφολική αναγωγάση (DHFR). Συνεπώς, είναι πιθανό η υπερέκφραση του παράγοντα Cdt1 να συμβάλλει στη δημιουργία γονιδιακής ενίσχυσης. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της εργασίας μελετήθηκε η κινητική συμπεριφορά των πρωτεϊνών MCM2-7 με μεθόδους λειτουργικής μικροσκοπίας. Αρχικά αναπτύχθηκε ένα σύστημα μελέτης το οποίο βασίζεται στις μεθόδους FRAP και FLIP και επιτρέπει τη μελέτη της δυναμικής συμπεριφοράς των πρωτεϊνών MCM και κατ’ επέκταση τη χωροχρονική ποσοτική εκτίμηση της αδειοδότησης της αντιγραφής του DNA σε ζωντανά ανθρώπινα κύτταρα. Η ανάλυση της κινητικής των πρωτεϊνών MCM2 και MCM4 7. Περίληψη - Abstract - 212 - αποκάλυψε σημαντική διαφορά σε σύγκριση με την αντίστοιχη του παράγοντα Cdt1, καθώς οι πρωτεΐνες MCM παρουσιάζουν πιο σταθερή αλληλεπίδραση με τη χρωματίνη. Επίσης, διαπιστώθηκε σταδιακή πρόσδεση των πρωτεϊνών MCM στη χρωματίνη με την πρόοδο της φάσης G1, περαιτέρω πρόσδεση μορίων MCM στο τέλος της φάσης αυτής και σταδιακή αποδέσμευση αυτών από τη χρωματίνη καθώς εξελίσσεται η φάση S. Πειράματα FLIP αποκάλυψαν ότι η αλληλεπίδραση των πρωτεϊνών MCM με τη χρωματίνη λαμβάνει χώρα σε συγκεκριμένες υποπυρηνικές περιοχές. Οι περιοχές αυτές αυξάνονται σε αριθμό με την πρόοδο της φάσης G1 και ελαττώνονται με την εξέλιξη της φάσης S. Η παρατήρηση των υποπεριοχών αυτών κατά τη φάση S κατέδειξε ότι δεν συμπίπτουν με τις υποδομές της πρωτεΐνης PCNA, γεγονός που υποδεικνύει ότι οι πρωτεΐνες MCM2-7 δεν εντοπίζονται στις περιοχές σύνθεσης του DNA. Επιπλέον, διερευνήθηκε η πιθανή επίδραση της πρωτεΐνης Geminin στην κινητική συμπεριφορά των πρωτεϊνών MCM. Πειράματα αποσιώπησης της έκφρασης της πρωτεΐνης Geminin είχαν ως αποτέλεσμα τη μείωση του δεσμευμένου κλάσματος των πρωτεϊνών MCM2 και MCM4 κατά τη διάρκεια της φάσης G1, καθώς και την αποσταθεροποίηση των ήδη δεσμευμένων μορίων στο τέλος της φάσης αυτής. Επίσης, η απουσία της πρωτεΐνης Geminin είχε ως αποτέλεσμα την αδυναμία των κυττάρων να εισέλθουν στη φάση S. Συμπερασματικά, στο πρώτο μέρος της παρούσας εργασίας καταδείχθηκε η πιθανή αξία του παράγοντα Cdt1 ως διαγνωστικού και προγνωστικού βιοδείκτη στον όγκο μαστού. Επιπλέον, διαπιστώθηκε ότι η υπερέκφραση του παράγοντα Cdt1 πιθανώς συμβάλλει στη δημιουργία γονιδιακής ενίσχυσης, παρατήρηση που προτείνει ένα νέο μηχανισμό ογκογόνου δράσης του παράγοντα αυτού. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της εργασίας διαπιστώθηκε ότι η κινητική των πρωτεϊνών MCM2 και MCM4 αλλάζει κατά τη διάρκεια των φάσεων G1 και S. Επίσης, η πρωτεΐνη Geminin δείχθηκε ότι απαιτείται για την πρόσδεση των πρωτεϊνών MCM στη χρωματίνη και για την πρόοδο των κυττάρων από τη φάση G1 στη φάση S, παρατήρηση που καταδεικνύει ένα πιθανό θετικό ρόλο της πρωτεΐνης Geminin στην αντιγραφή του DNA. / Tight regulation of the DNA replication initiation is crucial for the maintenance of genomic integrity. Faithful replication in time and space is ensured by a process called DNA licensing, which takes place in late mitosis and during G1 phase. Licensing involves the stepwise assembly of pre-replicative complexes at origins of replication. These complexes render DNA origins competent to initiate replication. Cdt1 is an essential regulator of DNA licensing that accumulates only in G1 phase of the cell cycle and is required for the recruitment of MCM2-7 helicases onto replication origins. In metazoans, Cdt1 is negatively regulated by a protein called Geminin, which is expressed from S to M phases. Geminin binds to Cdt1 preventing replication licensing. Several lines of evidence suggest that Cdt1 overexpression in cell lines and animals drives rereplication and contributes to genomic instability. In the first part of this thesis, Cdt1 expression levels were analyzed in breast cancer specimens. Cdt1 protein expression was correlated to clinicopathological parameters of the disease, proliferation index and HER2/neu status. Analysis revealed that Cdt1 was statistically significantly overexpressed in the invasive tumor areas compared to adjacent non-neoplastic tissue. Moreover, a significant inverse correlation was established between Cdt1 expression levels and oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status. A significant positive correlation of Cdt1 expression with the proliferation index Ki67 was demonstrated. These observations imply that Cdt1 may constitute a useful prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for breast cancer. Additionally, Cdt1 expression levels were significantly higher in HER2/neu score 3+ tumors (known to show HER2/neu gene amplification by FISH in 95% of cases) compared to HER2/neu negative tumors (known to show HER2/neu gene amplification by FISH in only 0-7% of cases). This observation prompted us to investigate whether gene amplification is a direct consequence of Cdt1 overexperssion. To this end, Cdt1 and Cdc6 were overexpressed in HeLa and MCF7 cell lines. The overexperssion of these licensing factors resulted in the generation of methotrexate resistance colonies. Given that the major cause of resistance to methotrexate is the increased expression levels of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) due to gene amplification, it is probable that Cdt1 overexpression may lead to this type of genomic instability. In the second part of this thesis, live cell imaging techniques were used to assess dynamics of licensing within the cell nucleus. In particular, we established an in vivo licensing assay, which is based on FRAP and FLIP techniques and permits the investigation of the kinetics of MCM helicases within live human cells. FRAP analysis of GFP-MCM2 and GFP-MCM4 kinetics revealed that MCMs maintain stable association with chromatin during G1 phase in contrast to Cdt1, which exhibits transient interaction with chromatin throughout G1 phase. Moreover it was shown that MCMs are gradually bound to chromatin as G1 phase progresses, being maximally bound in late G1, before the onset of DNA replication and are displaced from chromatin during the course of S phase. Fluorescence-Loss-In-Photobleaching (FLIP) experiments indicated that MCM-chromatin association is not homogenous throughout the nucleus but shows subnuclear concentrations which differ as cells progress through G1 and are adjacent to sites of ongoing DNA synthesis in S phase cells. Moreover, it was shown that Geminin is required for MCM proteins being stably bound to chromatin as well as for proper progression of 7. Περίληψη - Abstract - 214 - cells from G1 to S phase. Taken together our results suggest additional levels of regulation of MCM chromatin association during G1 and S phases. Furthermore, Geminin appears to have a positive regulatory role in DNA replication.

A descoberta das células tronco adultas tornou possível a sua aplicação clínica em protocolos de medicina regenerativa e de engenharia de tecidos para a reparação de órgãos danificados ou pouco funcionais. Neste sentido, são conhecidas muitas fontes diferentes de células tronco adultas, entre elas o tecido epitelial, o tecido muscular e a medula óssea. Recentemente, o tecido adiposo adulto foi reconhecido como uma fonte alternativa, acessível e rica em células tronco mesenquimais (MSCs), também denominadas de células tronco derivadas do tecido adiposo (hADSCs). As hADSCs são as células tronco adultas que apresentam a maior plasticidade, e são facilmente isoladas pela característica de aderência a substratos plásticos. Sob condições específicas de cultivo, as hADSCs podem diferenciar-se em células precursoras osteoblásticas. Dentre as proteínas necessárias para a diferenciação das hADSCs, o papel do complexo minichromosome maintenance (MCM) não é muito bem conhecido. A proteína MCM2 é parte do complexo MCM, fazendo parte do complexo pré-replicativo (pre-RC). Em células proliferativas, o gene MCM2 apresenta alta expressão, sendo que o seu produto gênico está relacionado com os mecanismos de reparação de DNA. Sendo assim, analisamos as mudanças na expressão do gene MCM2 durante a osteodiferenciação das hADSCs em diferentes meios de cultura, contendo BMP-4 ou OM. Os genes relacionados com a osteodiferenciação, como osteocalcina (OC), osteopontina (OP) e fosfatase alcalina (ALP) foram analisados por RT-PCR, por PCR em tempo real e citoquímica. Os dados obtidos pelas técnicas citoquímicas e de biologia molecular indicaram uma diminuição da expressão do gene MCM2 durante a osteodiferenciação, que pode estar relacionada com danos ao DNA ou senescência nas hADSCs. / The discovery of adult stem cells is a promise field in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. There are many sources of adult stem cells among which of whom are the skin, muscle and bone marrow. Currently, the adipose tissue has been an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), termed human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). The MSCs are the most plastic adult stem cells known until now and are easily isolated by adherence in plastic substrates. Under specifics conditions of culture hADSCs can be differentiated in osteoblast cell precursors. Among proteins needed for hADSCs differentiation, the roles of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex remains poorly understood. The protein complex MCM2-7 is part of DNA pre-replicative complex (pre-RC), being abundant in proliferating cells and involved in DNA repair mechanisms. In this sense, the Mcm2 is essential for the activity of the MCM complex. Thus, we analysed MCM2 gene expression changes during osteoinduction by culturing hADSCs in different media containing BMP-4 or in osteogenic medium. Genes related to osteodifferentiation, like osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin (OP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed by molecular and cytochemistry approaches during osteodifferentiation. Interestingly, we observed a decrease in the MCM2 gene level osteoinduction of hADSCs in osteogenic medium, which could be related to an increase in genome damage and senescence in hADSCs.

A descoberta das células tronco adultas tornou possível a sua aplicação clínica em protocolos de medicina regenerativa e de engenharia de tecidos para a reparação de órgãos danificados ou pouco funcionais. Neste sentido, são conhecidas muitas fontes diferentes de células tronco adultas, entre elas o tecido epitelial, o tecido muscular e a medula óssea. Recentemente, o tecido adiposo adulto foi reconhecido como uma fonte alternativa, acessível e rica em células tronco mesenquimais (MSCs), também denominadas de células tronco derivadas do tecido adiposo (hADSCs). As hADSCs são as células tronco adultas que apresentam a maior plasticidade, e são facilmente isoladas pela característica de aderência a substratos plásticos. Sob condições específicas de cultivo, as hADSCs podem diferenciar-se em células precursoras osteoblásticas. Dentre as proteínas necessárias para a diferenciação das hADSCs, o papel do complexo minichromosome maintenance (MCM) não é muito bem conhecido. A proteína MCM2 é parte do complexo MCM, fazendo parte do complexo pré-replicativo (pre-RC). Em células proliferativas, o gene MCM2 apresenta alta expressão, sendo que o seu produto gênico está relacionado com os mecanismos de reparação de DNA. Sendo assim, analisamos as mudanças na expressão do gene MCM2 durante a osteodiferenciação das hADSCs em diferentes meios de cultura, contendo BMP-4 ou OM. Os genes relacionados com a osteodiferenciação, como osteocalcina (OC), osteopontina (OP) e fosfatase alcalina (ALP) foram analisados por RT-PCR, por PCR em tempo real e citoquímica. Os dados obtidos pelas técnicas citoquímicas e de biologia molecular indicaram uma diminuição da expressão do gene MCM2 durante a osteodiferenciação, que pode estar relacionada com danos ao DNA ou senescência nas hADSCs. / The discovery of adult stem cells is a promise field in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. There are many sources of adult stem cells among which of whom are the skin, muscle and bone marrow. Currently, the adipose tissue has been an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), termed human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). The MSCs are the most plastic adult stem cells known until now and are easily isolated by adherence in plastic substrates. Under specifics conditions of culture hADSCs can be differentiated in osteoblast cell precursors. Among proteins needed for hADSCs differentiation, the roles of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex remains poorly understood. The protein complex MCM2-7 is part of DNA pre-replicative complex (pre-RC), being abundant in proliferating cells and involved in DNA repair mechanisms. In this sense, the Mcm2 is essential for the activity of the MCM complex. Thus, we analysed MCM2 gene expression changes during osteoinduction by culturing hADSCs in different media containing BMP-4 or in osteogenic medium. Genes related to osteodifferentiation, like osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin (OP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed by molecular and cytochemistry approaches during osteodifferentiation. Interestingly, we observed a decrease in the MCM2 gene level osteoinduction of hADSCs in osteogenic medium, which could be related to an increase in genome damage and senescence in hADSCs.

A descoberta das células tronco adultas tornou possível a sua aplicação clínica em protocolos de medicina regenerativa e de engenharia de tecidos para a reparação de órgãos danificados ou pouco funcionais. Neste sentido, são conhecidas muitas fontes diferentes de células tronco adultas, entre elas o tecido epitelial, o tecido muscular e a medula óssea. Recentemente, o tecido adiposo adulto foi reconhecido como uma fonte alternativa, acessível e rica em células tronco mesenquimais (MSCs), também denominadas de células tronco derivadas do tecido adiposo (hADSCs). As hADSCs são as células tronco adultas que apresentam a maior plasticidade, e são facilmente isoladas pela característica de aderência a substratos plásticos. Sob condições específicas de cultivo, as hADSCs podem diferenciar-se em células precursoras osteoblásticas. Dentre as proteínas necessárias para a diferenciação das hADSCs, o papel do complexo minichromosome maintenance (MCM) não é muito bem conhecido. A proteína MCM2 é parte do complexo MCM, fazendo parte do complexo pré-replicativo (pre-RC). Em células proliferativas, o gene MCM2 apresenta alta expressão, sendo que o seu produto gênico está relacionado com os mecanismos de reparação de DNA. Sendo assim, analisamos as mudanças na expressão do gene MCM2 durante a osteodiferenciação das hADSCs em diferentes meios de cultura, contendo BMP-4 ou OM. Os genes relacionados com a osteodiferenciação, como osteocalcina (OC), osteopontina (OP) e fosfatase alcalina (ALP) foram analisados por RT-PCR, por PCR em tempo real e citoquímica. Os dados obtidos pelas técnicas citoquímicas e de biologia molecular indicaram uma diminuição da expressão do gene MCM2 durante a osteodiferenciação, que pode estar relacionada com danos ao DNA ou senescência nas hADSCs. / The discovery of adult stem cells is a promise field in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. There are many sources of adult stem cells among which of whom are the skin, muscle and bone marrow. Currently, the adipose tissue has been an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), termed human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). The MSCs are the most plastic adult stem cells known until now and are easily isolated by adherence in plastic substrates. Under specifics conditions of culture hADSCs can be differentiated in osteoblast cell precursors. Among proteins needed for hADSCs differentiation, the roles of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex remains poorly understood. The protein complex MCM2-7 is part of DNA pre-replicative complex (pre-RC), being abundant in proliferating cells and involved in DNA repair mechanisms. In this sense, the Mcm2 is essential for the activity of the MCM complex. Thus, we analysed MCM2 gene expression changes during osteoinduction by culturing hADSCs in different media containing BMP-4 or in osteogenic medium. Genes related to osteodifferentiation, like osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin (OP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed by molecular and cytochemistry approaches during osteodifferentiation. Interestingly, we observed a decrease in the MCM2 gene level osteoinduction of hADSCs in osteogenic medium, which could be related to an increase in genome damage and senescence in hADSCs.

The MCM helicase plays an important role in eukaryotic DNA replication, unwinding double stranded DNA ahead of the replication fork. MCM is a hetero-hexamer consisting of the six related proteins, Mcm2-Mcm7. The distantly related MCM-binding protein (MCM-BP) was first identified in a screen for proteins interacting with MCM2-7 in human cells and was found to specifically interact with Mcm3-7 but not Mcm2. It is conserved in most eukaryotes and seems to play an important role in DNA replication but its exact function is not clear yet. This study contributes to the understanding of the fission yeast homologue of MCM-BP, named Mcb1, but also of MCM-BP in general. Results presented in this thesis document the initial biochemical characterisation of the complex Mcb1 forms with Mcm proteins, the MCMᴹᶜᵇ¹ complex. Interactions of Mcb1 with Mcm proteins, potential interaction sites between the proteins and the size of the complex were analysed using a variety of methods, including tandem affinity purification, co-immunoprecipitation, sucrose gradients and in vitro pull-down assays. Sequence analysis and structure prediction were utilised to gain some insight into Mcb1 and MCM-BP ancestry and structure. Results presented here indicate that fission yeast Mcb1 shares homology with Mcm proteins and forms a complex with Mcm3-Mcm7 but not Mcm2 and thus replaces the latter in an alternative high molecular weight complex that is likely to have an MCM-like appearance. Deletion of mcb1⁺ showed that Mcb1 is essential in fission yeast. To examine the cellular function of the protein, temperature-sensitive mutants were generated. Inactivation of Mcb1 leads to an increase in DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in G2-phase depending on the activation of the Chk1 dependent DNA damage checkpoint. Similar observations were made when Mcb1 was overexpressed, indicating that certain levels of the protein are important for accurate DNA replication. Construction of truncated versions of Mcb1 suggested that almost the full-length protein is needed for proper function.