Le polynucléaire neutrophile (PMN), cellule clé de l’immunité innée, est la première cellule à être recrutée sur le site inflammatoire. Après avoir détruit l’agent pathogène, il entre en apoptose puis est éliminé par les macrophages pour éviter le déversement de son contenu lytique, dangereux pour l’environnement. La régulation de la balance survie/apoptose du neutrophile est donc une étape cruciale de la résolution de l’inflammation. Notre laboratoire a mis en évidence la présence du Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) dans le neutrophile mature. PCNA est exprimé dans le noyau des cellules proliférantes, où il est impliqué dans la réplication/réparation de l’ADN et dans le contrôle du cycle cellulaire. PCNA est une protéine trimérique conservée au cours de l’évolution dépourvue d’activité enzymatique. En effet, PCNA constitue une “plateforme” qui interagit avec différents partenaires protéiques et orchestre leurs fonctions. De plus, pour assurer sa fonction, PCNA doit être obligatoirement sous forme trimérique. Dans le neutrophile mature, il a été démontré que PCNA avait une localisation exclusivement cytosolique et qu’il contrôlait spécifiquement la survie du neutrophile. La translocation de PCNA du noyau au cytosol a lieu pendant la différenciation granulocytaire. Elle est dépendante d'une séquence d'export nucléaire (NES) accessible et fonctionnelle que lorsque PCNA est monomérique. Le but de ma thèse a été d’étudier la plateforme de PCNA dans le cytosol du neutrophile afin d'identifier les protéines associées à PCNA afin de comprendre sa fonction dans les neutrophiles. Nous avons montré la présence de la forme monomérique et de la forme trimérique de PCNA dans le cytosol du neutrophile mature. Nous avons démontré une activité anti-apoptotique de la forme monomérique dans des cellules PLB985 différenciées en neutrophiles. De plus, nous avons identifié des peptides exposés sur la surface monomérique de PCNA qui sont utilisé comme des compétiteurs pour déplacer les interactions entre PCNA et ses partenaires dans le cytosol des neutrophiles. Ces peptides modulent la survie des neutrophiles. Grâce à des analyses de Spectrométrie de Masse, nous avons identifié des nouveaux partenaires de PCNA dans le cytosol du neutrophile impliqués dans plusieurs voies métaboliques. Cela suggère que PCNA régule la survie du neutrophile en interagissant avec différents protéines cytosoliques. Parmi les partenaires identifiés, nous avons trouvé les sous-unités cytosoliques de la NADPH oxydase, enzyme responsable de la production de formes réactives de l’oxygène, à la base de l’activité microbicide du neutrophile. Nous avons montré en particulier l’interaction entre p47phox et PCNA. Nous avons enfin étudié l’implication fonctionnelle de l’interaction de PCNA avec la NADPH oxydase dans des cellules PLB985 et également dans des neutrophiles humains. L’ensemble des résultats suggère que PCNA cytoplasmique maintient le neutrophile dans un état de repos, et aide l’assemblage de la NADPH oxydase lors de son activation. Le réseau protéique associé à PCNA régule l’activité et la survie du neutrophile en modulant différentes voies de signalisation. / Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), key cells of innate immunity are the first cell recruited to the inflammatory site. After destroying the pathogen, neutrophils undergo apoptosis and are cleared by macrophages to prevent the spillage of their lytic content that is dangerous for the environment. The regulation of the survival/apoptosis balance of neutrophil is a crucial step in the inflammation resolution. Our laboratory has shown the presence of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in mature neutrophils. PCNA is expressed in the nucleus of proliferating cells, where it is involved in DNA replication/repair and in cell cycle control. PCNA is a trimeric protein conserved during evolution and deprived of enzymatic activity. Indeed, PCNA is a “platform” that interacts with different partner proteins and orchestrates their functions. Furthermore, PCNA must be in trimeric form to play its role. In mature neutrophils, PCNA has an exclusively cytosolic localization where it specifically controls their survival. The PCNA translocation from nucleus to the cytosol happened during the granulocytic differentiation. This nuclear-to-cytosol relocalisation is dependent on a nuclear export sequence (NES), which is accessible and functional when PCNA is monomeric. The aim of my thesis was to study the PCNA platform in the neutrophil cytosol to identify the proteins associated with PCNA in order to understand its function in neutrophils. We have shown the expression of monomeric and trimeric forms of PCNA in the cytosol of mature neutrophils. We have demonstrated the anti-apoptotic activity of the monomeric form in PLB985 cells differentiated in neutrophils. Moreover, we have identified the surface-exposed peptides from the monomeric PCNA which are used as competitors of interactions between PCNA and its partner in the cytosol of neutrophils. These peptides modulate neutrophils survival. Thanks to the analysis of Mass Spectrometry, we have identified new partners of PCNA in the neutrophil cytosol involved in several metabolic pathways. This suggests that PCNA regulates neutrophil survival by interacting with different cytosolic proteins. Among the identified partners, we have found the cytosolic subunits of the NADPH oxidase, the enzyme responsible of the reactive oxygen species production, at the base of the neutrophil microbicidal activity. We have shown especially the interaction between p47phox and PCNA. Finally, we have investigated the functional implication of the interaction of PCNA with the NADPH oxidase in PLB985 cells and also in human neutrophils. Taken altogether, results suggest that the cytosolic PCNA maintains the resting state of neutrophils, and it helps the assembly of the NADPH oxidase when activated. The protein network associated with PCNA regulates the activity and the survival of neutrophil by modulating several pathways.

Natural killer cells (NK cells) are part of the immune system in human and other mammals. The task of these cells, which belong to the non-specific immunity, is to induce apoptosis in other cells of the body that may represent a threat for the body (i.e., tumour or virally infected cells). NK cells have a variety of surface receptors to recognize their target cells. A number of receptors are well-known today and they may be divided into groups based, e.g., on their structural similarities or on the type of signal which these receptors present to NK cells. Accordingly, we distinguish activation and inhibitory receptors. Inhibitory receptors inhibit NK cell response, while activation receptors elicit this response. During NK cell contact with another cell, the resulting NK cell behaviour is always the result of a certain balance of activation and inhibitory receptor responses. The NKp44 receptor is an immunoglobulin-like receptor. This receptor is very unique among other receptors in many respects, for example because it is associated with both activation and inhibitory motif. The ligand of this receptor is a proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA is a clamp protein important, inter alia, during DNA replication, in which it anchors other replisome proteins. This work is focused on...

DNA replication is a fundamental cellular process. However, the structure and dynamics of the eukaryotic DNA replication machinery remain poorly understood. A soluble extract system prepared from Xenopus eggs recapitulates eukaryotic DNA replication outside of a cell on a variety of DNA templates. This system has been used to reveal many aspects of DNA replication using a variety of ensemble biochemical techniques. Single-molecule fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool to dissect biochemical mechanisms. By immobilizing or confining a substrate, its interaction with individual, soluble, fluorescently-labeled reactants can be imaged over time and without the need for synchrony. These molecular movies reveal binding parameters of the reactant and any population heterogeneity. Moreover, if the experiments are imaged in wide-field format, the location or motion of the labeled species along the substrate can be followed with nanometer accuracy. This dissertation describes the use and development of novel single-molecule fluorescence imaging techniques to study eukaryotic DNA replication. A biophysical characterization of a replication fork protein, PCNA, revealed both helical and non-helical sliding modes along DNA. Previous experiments demonstrate that the egg extracts efficiently replicate surface-immobilized linear DNA. This finding suggested replication of DNA could be followed as motion of the replication fork along the extended DNA. However, individual proteins bound at the replication fork could not be visualized in the wide-field due to the background from the high concentration of the fluorescent protein needed to compete with the extract’s endogenous protein. To overcome this concentration barrier, I have developed a wide-field technique that enables sensitive detection of single molecules at micromolar concentrations of the labeled protein of interest. The acronym for this method, PhADE, denotes three essential steps: (1) Localized PhotoActivation of fluorescence at the immobilized substrate, (2) Diffusion of unbound fluorescent molecules to reduce the background and (3) Excitation and imaging of the substrate-bound molecules. PhADE imaging of flap endonuclease I (Fen1) during replication revealed the time-evolved pattern of replication initiation, elongation and termination and the kinetics of Fen1 exchange during Okazaki fragment maturation. In the future, PhADE will enable the elucidation of the dynamic events at the eukaryotic DNA replication fork. PhADE will also be broadly applicable to the investigation of other complex biochemical process and low affinity interactions. It will be especially useful to those researchers wishing to correlate motion with binding events.

Em Trypanosoma cruzi os sítios de replicação estão localizados na periferia nuclear. A fim de entender a dinâmica das moléculas envolvidas na replicação, Orc/Cdc6 foi usado como marcador da maquinaria de pré-replicação e PCNA como marcador da maquinaria de replicação durante o ciclo celular da forma epimastigota. Ambas as moléculas apresentaram dois padrões de localização nuclear: padrão disperso e periférico. Em ensaio de dupla marcação três combinações dos padrões de Orc/Cdc6 e TcPCNA foram encontrados durante G1/S: Orc/Cdc6 periférico e PCNA disperso, ambos dispersos e ambos periféricos. Por meio destes resultados pudemos concluir que durante G1 ambas as moléculas se encontram dispersas. Ao final desta fase, Orc/Cdc6 migra para periferia nuclear enquanto PCNA permanece disperso, migrando para a periferia nuclear quando a célula entra em S, quando a replicação do DNA irá ocorrer. Assim, a replicação na periferia nuclear não se deve à localização prévia das moléculas de replicação nesta região, mas sim à migração destas moléculas para os sítios apropriados. / In Trypanosoma cruzi the replication sites are located at nuclear periphery. In order to analyse the dynamics of molecules involved in replication, Orc/Cdc6 was used as a marker of pre-replication machinery and PCNA as a marker of replication machinery during the cell cycle of epimastigote form. Both molecules presented two nuclear patterns: dispersed pattern and peripheral pattern. Double-labeling assay showed three different patterns of Orc/Cdc6 and PCNA in the nucleus: Orc/Cdc6 at nuclear periphery and PCNA dispersed, both dispersed and both at nuclear periphery. This data allowed us to conclude that during early G1 phase both molecules are dispersed in the nucleus and during late G1 Orc/Cdc6 goes to nuclear periphery while TcPCNA remains dispersed, moving to nuclear periphery, where DNA replication will take place, when S phase starts. Thus, the replication of DNA at nuclear periphery is not due to localization of replications factors at nuclear periphery; instead it depends on the movement of these factors to the appropriated sites.

Em Trypanosoma cruzi os sítios de replicação estão localizados na periferia nuclear. A fim de entender a dinâmica das moléculas envolvidas na replicação, Orc/Cdc6 foi usado como marcador da maquinaria de pré-replicação e PCNA como marcador da maquinaria de replicação durante o ciclo celular da forma epimastigota. Ambas as moléculas apresentaram dois padrões de localização nuclear: padrão disperso e periférico. Em ensaio de dupla marcação três combinações dos padrões de Orc/Cdc6 e TcPCNA foram encontrados durante G1/S: Orc/Cdc6 periférico e PCNA disperso, ambos dispersos e ambos periféricos. Por meio destes resultados pudemos concluir que durante G1 ambas as moléculas se encontram dispersas. Ao final desta fase, Orc/Cdc6 migra para periferia nuclear enquanto PCNA permanece disperso, migrando para a periferia nuclear quando a célula entra em S, quando a replicação do DNA irá ocorrer. Assim, a replicação na periferia nuclear não se deve à localização prévia das moléculas de replicação nesta região, mas sim à migração destas moléculas para os sítios apropriados. / In Trypanosoma cruzi the replication sites are located at nuclear periphery. In order to analyse the dynamics of molecules involved in replication, Orc/Cdc6 was used as a marker of pre-replication machinery and PCNA as a marker of replication machinery during the cell cycle of epimastigote form. Both molecules presented two nuclear patterns: dispersed pattern and peripheral pattern. Double-labeling assay showed three different patterns of Orc/Cdc6 and PCNA in the nucleus: Orc/Cdc6 at nuclear periphery and PCNA dispersed, both dispersed and both at nuclear periphery. This data allowed us to conclude that during early G1 phase both molecules are dispersed in the nucleus and during late G1 Orc/Cdc6 goes to nuclear periphery while TcPCNA remains dispersed, moving to nuclear periphery, where DNA replication will take place, when S phase starts. Thus, the replication of DNA at nuclear periphery is not due to localization of replications factors at nuclear periphery; instead it depends on the movement of these factors to the appropriated sites.

Les archées hyperthermophiles ont une température optimale de croissance supérieure à 80°C.Les cellules exposées à un stress thermique subissent une augmentation de la sensibilité aux agents induisant des cassures double brin de l’ADN. Les études sur les eucaryotes et bactéries ont démontré que la recombinaison homologue joue un rôle essentiel non seulement dans la réparation de l’ADN, mais aussi dans le redémarrage des arrêts de la fourche de réplication. Les enzymes associées aux étapes initiales de la recombinaison homologue chez les archées sont homologues à celles des eucaryotes, et différentes des analogues bactériens. De plus, plusieurs études ont démontré que les protéines impliquées dans la recombinaison homologue sont essentielles chez les archées hyperthermophiles, soulignant l’importance biologique de cette voie de réparation chez ces organismes particuliers. Le rôle de la recombinaison homologue pour la stabilité génomique a été bien étudié chez les eucaryotes et les bactéries, cependant, peu de ses propriétés fonctionnelles ont été étudiées chez les archées hyperthermophiles. Pour mieux comprendre le mécanisme de recombinaison homologue impliquée au niveau de la maintenance génomique chez les archées, un réseau d’interactions protéine-protéines a été révélé précédemment au laboratoire à partir des protéines de Pyrococcus abyssi. Ces travaux ont démontré de nouvelles interactions où interviennent les protéines de la réplication et les protéines de la recombinaison de l’ADN. L’objet de cette étude de thèse est de présenter deux interactions : PCNA/Mre11-rad50 (MR) complexe et Primase/RadA. Pour la première fois chez P. furiosus, une interaction physique et fonctionnelle a été démontrée entre le PCNA et le complexe MR (l’initiateur de HR). Un motif, situé en position Cterminale de Mre11, permet l’interaction avec PCNA.PCNA stimule l’activité endonucléase du complexe MR à distance proche de l’extrémité 5’ d’une cassure double brin. Cette propriété est en accord avec l’intervention ultérieure des enzymes assurant la suite du mécanisme de réparation par recombinaison homologue. Par ailleurs, les protéines RadA, Primase et P41 ont été produites et purifiées. Leurs fonctions enzymatiques ont été confirmées. Cependant, nous n’avons pas pu caractériser la fonction de l’association de RadA/Primase. / Hyperthermophilic archaea (HA) are found in high-temperature environments and grow optimally above 80°C. Usually, cells exposed to heat stress display an increased sensitivity to agents inducing double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs). Studies in Eukaryotes and Bacteria have revealed that homologous recombination (HR) plays a crucial role not only in DNA DSBs repair, but also in the collapsed/stalled DNA replication fork restart.Recombinase and various HR-associated enzymes in archaea specifically resemble the eukaryotic homologues, rather than bacterial homologues.Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated the necessity of HR proteins in HA, suggesting that, HR is an important mechanism in HA. HR influencing genome stability has been well studied in Eukaryotes andBacteria, however, few of its functional properties have been studied in HA.To better understand how HR mechanism is involved in the archaeal genome maintenance process, a previous work proposed a protein-protein interaction network based on Pyrococcus abyssi proteins. Through the network, new interactions involving proteins from DNA replication and DNA recombination were highlighted. The targets of the study presented here for two protein interaction are: PCNA/Mre11-rad50 complex (MR complex) and Primase/RadA. For the first time in P. furiosus, we showed both physical and functional interactions between PCNA (Maestro in DNA replication) and MR complex (initiator of HR). We have identified a PCNA-interaction motif (PIP) located in the C-terminal of Mre11, and shown that PCNA stimulated MR complex endonuclease cleavage proximal to the s’ strand of DNA DSBs at physiological ionic strength. For the second interaction, we have purified the proteins PabRadA/PfuRadA, PabPrimase and PabP41, and confirmed its enzymatic functions. However, we were not able to characterize the function of Primase/RadA association.

Les anticorps thérapeutiques sont des molécules de choix pour le traitement standard de nombreuses formes de cancers. Leur application est à ce jour restreinte au compartiment extracellulaire à cause de leur taille trop importante qui les empêche de traverser la membrane cellulaire. Comme la plupart des cibles thérapeutiques du cancer semblent être situées dans le milieu intracellulaire, ce serait un plus de pouvoir exploiter les propriétés des anticorps dans les cellules pour étudier et perturber l’activité de ces cibles. Néanmoins, l’utilisation des anticorps dans le milieu intracellulaire constitue un véritable challenge, notamment à cause de la membrane cellulaire et de l’environnement réducteur du cytoplasme. L’ensemble des travaux de thèse présentés dans ce manuscrit ont permis d’établir les bases de plusieurs stratégies innovantes d’immunociblage intracellulaire et de mettre en lumière l’importance des différentes étapes de validation d’anticorps ou de fragments dérivés utilisés comme anticorps intracellulaires. La vectorisation d’anticorps complets par électroporation, le développement d’un intracorps bispécifique original anti-PCNA et la mise au point d’une méthode de mutagenèse inspirée de l’hypermutation somatique constituent les principales avancées apportées par ce travail dans le domaine de la recherche technologique en immuno biotechnologie. / Therapeutic antibodies are interesting molecules used to treat numerous pathologies such as cancer. Because of their size, their application is currently limited to the extracellular space. Indeed, antibodies cannot cross the cell membrane. Almost all therapeutic targets in cancer seem to be located inside cells, it would be beneficial to take advantage of antibodies in cells in order to neutralize the activity of these targets. The use of antibodies inside the cells is a real challenge, because of the cell membrane and the reducing environment of the cytoplasm. Several strategies of intracellular immunotargeting are presented in this thesis.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A identificaÃÃo da atividade proliferativa em cistos e tumores odontogÃnicos tem sido apontada como um importante ponto na avaliaÃÃo do comportamento biolÃgico entre diferentes lesÃes. O AntÃgeno Nuclear de CÃlulas Proliferantes (PCNA) e o Ki-67 sÃo os marcadores moleculares mais utilizados na detecÃÃo de cÃlulas proliferantes. MutaÃÃes no gene supressor tumoral p53 podem produzir proteÃnas mais estÃveis, porÃm com alteraÃÃes funcionais de fundamental importÃncia relacionadas à induÃÃo da apoptose ou à inibiÃÃo mitÃtica. A maior estabilidade da p53 mutada possibilita sua detecÃÃo imunohistoquÃmica e esta tÃcnica tem sido utilizada para avaliaÃÃo do comportamento biolÃgico de lesÃes neoplÃsicas e cÃsticas. O Cisto DentÃgero (CD), Queratocisto OdontogÃnico (QO) e o Ameloblastoma UnicÃstico (AU) sÃo lesÃes benignas originÃrias de distÃrbios na formaÃÃo do dente. Apesar das semelhanÃas clÃnicas e radiogrÃficas, estas lesÃes possuem um distinto comportamento biolÃgico, sendo o QO e o AU as lesÃes mais agressivas e que podem recidivar quando submetidos a tratamento conservador. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar, por imunohistoquÃmica, a expressÃo das proteÃnas PCNA, Ki-67 e p53 mutada em quinze QOs, dez CDs e cinco AUs. A mÃdia da percentagem de cÃlulas PCNA+ e Ki-67+ documentadas no forro epitelial dos Queratocistos (46,4 e 13,7%) foi significativamente maior que a dos Cistos DentÃgeros (26,2 e 7,9%). Os AUs apresentaram mÃdia de marcaÃÃo para o PCNA (35,9%) estatisticamente semelhante a observada nos QOs (P=0.136), mas, com relaÃÃo ao Ki-67 (24,4%), os AUs tiveram maior Ãndice de marcaÃÃo. Apesar de ambos marcadores serem utilizados na detecÃÃo de proliferaÃÃo celular foi observada uma maior mÃdia de cÃlulas marcadas para o PCNA em todas amostras. Trinta e trÃs por cento dos casos de Queratocistos apresentaram positividade para a p53. Apenas um caso de Cisto dentÃgero foi positivo. NÃo houve detecÃÃo em nenhum caso de Ameloblastoma UnicÃstico. Apesar da detecÃÃo da proteÃna p53 por imunohistoquÃmica ser considerada a variante mutada, o carÃter clÃnico benigno destas lesÃes sugere uma maior estabilidade desta proteÃna na sua funÃÃo de reparo / The identification of the proliferative activity in cysts and tumors has been pointed as an important aspect in the avaliation of the biologica behavior among different lesions. The proliferating cells nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the Ki-67 are the most used molecular markers in detection of proliferating cells. Mutations in p53 tumor suppressor gene can produce more stable protein, however with loss of function. The greater stability mutation p53 allows its immunohistochemical detection and this technique has been used in avaliation of biological behavior of neoplasic and cystic lesions. The dentigerous cysts (CD), odontogenic keratocyst (QO) and the unicystic ameloblastoma (AU) are benign lesions that have its origin in disturbs in the tooth formation. Despite the clinical and radiografic similarity, these lesions have a distinct biological behavior. Betwen then, QO and AU are the most aggressive lesions and can recur when submitted to conservative treatment. The present work has the objective of studing, through immunohistochemical, the expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and p53 in 15 QOs, 10 CDs and 5 AUs. The average of the percentage of PCNA+ and Ki 67+ cells countained in QOs (46,4 and 13, 7%) was significanting higher than the CD (26,2 and 7,9%). The AUs presented the labeling index for the PCNA (35,9%) statistically similar to that observed in QOs (P=0136), however, compared to Ki-67 (24,4%), the AUs had a bigger labeling index. Although both markers have been used in detection of cell proliferation, a larger average of marked cells for the PCNA it was observed in all the samples. Thirty three percent of the keratocyst cases presented a positivety for the p53. Only one case of dentigerous cysts was positive. It wasnât any case of unicystic ameloblastoma. Although the detection of the protein p53 for immunohistochemical be considered a mutated variation, the benign clinical behavior of these lesions suggest a larger stability of this protein in itâs repair function

After menopause, a woman's production of 17-estradiol, the predominant female sex hormone, declines. This change is associated with increased risk of osteoporosis/osteopenia and atraumatic bone fracture, cardiovascular disease, and breast and ovarian cancers. Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal compounds isolated from plants that have antagonistic, weak agonistic, or super-agonistic estrogenic effects in mammalian tissues; they have emerged as a potential therapeutic to alleviate post-menopausal symptoms. While some epidemiological evidence indicates that dietary consumption of phytoestrogens can alleviate post-menopausal health risks, other research suggests that phytoestrogens may not be completely safe. The research presented in this thesis indicates that a high concentration and sustained dose of phytoestrogens may be necessary to achieve antiestrogenic effects. MCF-7 cells, an estrogen-sensitive breast adenocarcinoma cell line, were used as a model system, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was used as a marker of cell proliferation. Immunoblotting shows that genistein, a commercially purified phytoestrogen, promotes cell proliferation when administered for 24 hours, but may reduce proliferation when cells were treated for 48 hours. Genistein and estrogen have an additive effect on cells that were treated simultaneously with both hormones for 24 hours. In contrast, Promensilâ„¢, an over-the-counter phytoestrogen dietary supplement, was able to abolish expression of PCNA after 48 hours, and at high concentrations prevented estrogen-induced upregulation of PCNA after 48 hours. The clinical significance of these findings is that phytoestrogens may reduce the risk of breast cancer, but only after sustained high doses, which may be difficult if patient non-compliance is at issue. Additionally, because cell proliferation and not cell survival was investigated, we cannot say whether phytoestrogens are cytotoxic to breast cancer cells, only that they reduce proliferation.

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.