DNA replication is one of the most fundamental processes in all living organisms. Its semi-discontinuous nature dictates that the lagging strand is synthesized in short fragments called Okazaki fragments. In eukaryotes, each Okazaki fragment is initiated by an ~ 30-40 nucleotide-long RNA-DNA hybrid primer that is synthesized by Pol α-primase complex. To ensure genomic stability, the RNA primer has to be excised, any misincorporations by Pol α have to be corrected for and finally the resulting nick has to be sealed generating a contiguous strand. This feat is accomplished by a highly coordinated and regulated process called Okazaki fragment maturation. At the center of this process are 5’ nucleases, which are structure-specific nucleases that catalyze the incision of phosphodiester bonds one nucleotide into the 5’ end of ssDNA/dsDNA junctions. Previous structural and biochemical studies have shed some light on the mechanism of FEN1 substrate recognition, its catalysis and regulation. However, many gaps in our understanding of this remarkable nuclease still persist. Moreover, the choice between the short- and long-flap pathways is still elusive. Finally, the mechanism of the coordination among the different enzymatic activities of the polymerase, the nuclease and the ligase during Okazaki fragment maturation is still debatable. In this work, we set out to study FEN1 substrate recognition, catalysis and regulation using single molecule techniques. We show that FEN1 employs a sophisticated substrate recognition mechanism through which it actively distorts the DNA to ~100˚ bent angle. It also displays a remarkable selectivity towards its cognate substrate and avoids off-target substrate by a lock-down mechanism that commits the enzyme for catalysis on cognate substrates while promoting the dissociation of non-cognate substrates. We further characterized FEN1 reaction from substrate binding/bending to product handoff and built a comprehensive kinetic scheme that shows FEN1 releasing its product in two steps. Finally, we uncovered an unprecedented role of FEN1 in the choice between short- and long-flap pathways.

Previous studies suggest a degree of homology between eukaryotic replication, transcription and translation proteins and archaeal ones. Hence, Archaea are considered a simplified model for understanding the complex molecular machinery involved in eukaryotic DNA metabolism. DNA replication in eukaryotic cells is widely studied. In recent years, DNA replication studies expanded on the archaeal DNA replication machinery. P. abyssi was the first archaeon whose genome was fully sequenced. Genome sequencing and comparative genomics have highlighted an MCM-like protein in P. abyssi. In this study, I report the biochemical and structural characterisation of PabMCM. PabMCM is explored as model for understanding more complex eukaryotic MCM proteins and unravelling the biochemical mechanism by which MCM proteins release their helicase activity. The crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus possesses a simplified toolset for DNA replication compared to Eukaryotes. In particular, S. solfataricus has a subset of the eukaryotic Okazaki fragment maturation factors, among which there are a heterotrimeric DNA sliding clamp, (the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), the DNA polymerase B1 (PolB1), the flap endonuclease (Fen1) and the ATP-dependent DNA ligase I (LigI). PCNA functions as a scaffold with each subunit having a specific binding affinity for each of the factors involved in Okazaki fragment maturation. Here, the 3D reconstruction of PCNA in complex with the Okazaki fragment maturation proteins PolB1, LigI and Fen1 is reported.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Accurate DNA replication is vital for maintaining genomic stability. Consequently, the machinery required to drive this process is designed to ensure the meticulous maintenance of information. However, random misincorporation of errors reduce the fidelity of the DNA and lead to pre-mature aging and age-related disorders such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Some of the incorporated errors are the result of the error prone DNA polymerase alpha (Pol α), which initiates synthesis on both the leading and lagging strand. Lagging strand synthesis acquires an increased number of polymerase α tracks because of the number of Okazaki fragments synthesized per round of the cell cycle (~50 million in mammalian cells). The accumulation of these errors invariably reduces the fidelity of the genome. Previous work has shown that these pol α tracks can be removed by two redundant pathways referred to as the short and long flap pathway. The long flap pathway utilizes a complex network of proteins to remove more of the misincorporated nucleotides than the short flap pathway which mediates the removal of shorter flaps. Lysine acetylation has been reported to modulate the function of the nucleases implicated in flap processing. The cleavage activity of the long flap pathway nuclease, Dna2, is stimulated by lysine acetylation while conversely lysine acetylation of the short flap pathway nuclease, FEN1, inhibits its activity. The major protein players implicated during Okazaki fragment processing (OFP) are known, however, the choice of the processing pathway and its regulation by lysine acetylation of its main players is yet unknown. This dissertation identifies three main findings: 1) Saccharomyces cerevisiae helicase, petite integration frequency (Pif1) is lysine acetylated by Esa1 and deacetylated by Rpd3 regulating its viability and biochemical properties including helicase, binding and ATPase activity ii) the single stranded DNA binding protein, human replication protein A (RPA) is modified by p300 and this modification stimulates its primary binding function and iii) lysine acetylated human RPA directs OFP towards the long flap pathway even for a subset of short flaps.