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A replication fork determinant for the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion.

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posted on 2023-02-23, 14:00 authored by Masashi Minamino, Céline Bouchoux, Berta Canal, John FX Diffley, Frank Uhlmann
Concomitant with DNA replication, the chromosomal cohesin complex establishes cohesion between newly replicated sister chromatids. Cohesion establishment requires acetylation of conserved cohesin lysine residues by Eco1 acetyltransferase. Here, we explore how cohesin acetylation is linked to DNA replication. Biochemical reconstitution of replication-coupled cohesin acetylation reveals that transient DNA structures, which form during DNA replication, control the acetylation reaction. As polymerases complete lagging strand replication, strand displacement synthesis produces DNA flaps that are trimmed to result in nicked double-stranded DNA. Both flaps and nicks stimulate cohesin acetylation, while subsequent nick ligation to complete Okazaki fragment maturation terminates the acetylation reaction. A flapped or nicked DNA substrate constitutes a transient molecular clue that directs cohesin acetylation to a window behind the replication fork, next to where cohesin likely entraps both sister chromatids. Our results provide an explanation for how DNA replication is linked to sister chromatid cohesion establishment.

Funding

Crick (Grant ID: CC2137, Grant title: Uhlmann CC2137) Crick (Grant ID: CC2002, Grant title: Diffley CC2002) European Research Council (Grant ID: 670412 - ChromatidCohesion, Grant title: ERC 670412 - ChromatidCohesion) European Research Council (Grant ID: 669424 - CHROMOREP, Grant title: ERC 669424 - CHROMOREP) Wellcome Trust (Grant ID: 220244/Z/20/Z, Grant title: WT 220244/Z/20/Z) Wellcome Trust (Grant ID: 219527/Z/19/Z, Grant title: WT 219527/Z/19/Z)

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