Proliferating cell nuclear antigen is required for DNA excision repair.

Fractionation of extracts from human cell lines allows nucleotide excision repair of damaged DNA to be resolved into discrete incision and polymerization stages. Generation of incised intermediates depends on the XP-A protein, a polypeptide that recognizes sites of damaged DNA, and on the human single-stranded DNA-binding protein HSSB. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is required for the DNA synthesis that converts the nicked intermediates to completed repair events. This need for PCNA implies that repair synthesis is carried out by DNA polymerase delta or epsilon. The ability to visualize repair intermediates in the absence of PCNA facilitates dissection of the multiprotein reaction that leads to incision of damaged DNA in a major pathway of cellular defense against mutagens.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen promotes translesion synthesis by DNA polymerase zeta

DNA polymerase zeta (Pol zeta), a heterodimer of Rev3 and Rev7, is essential for DNA damage provoked mutagenesis in eukaryotes. DNA polymerases that function in a processive complex with the replication clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) have been shown to possess a close match to the consensus PCNA-binding motif QxxLxxFF. This consensus motif is lacking in either subunit of Pol zeta, yet its activity is stimulated by PCNA. In particular, translesion synthesis of UV damage-containing DNA is dramatically stimulated by PCNA such that translesion synthesis rates are comparable with replication rates by Pol zeta on undamaged DNA. PCNA also stimulated translesion synthesis of a model abasic site by Pol zeta. Efficient PCNA stimulation required that PCNA was prevented from sliding off the damage-containing model oligonucleotide template-primer through the use of biotin-streptavidin bumpers or other blocks. Under those experimental conditions, facile bypass of the abasic site was also detected by DNA polymerase delta or eta (Rad30). The yeast DNA damage checkpoint clamp, consisting of Rad17, Mec3, and Ddc1, and an ortholog of human 9-1-1, has been implicated in damage-induced mutagenesis. However, this checkpoint clamp did not stimulate translesion synthesis by Pol zeta or by DNA polymerase delta.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is expressed in activated rat skeletal muscle satellite cells

Skeletal muscle satellite cells from uninjured muscle of adult animals are generally found to be in a quiescent state, and when cultured, they remain quiescent in vitro for a period of time which is directly related to the age of the donor animal. A technique for studying the activation of satellite cells in primary cultures has been developed and employs proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a marker for entrance into the S phase of the cell cycle. PCNA is a protein involved in DNA replication and is maximally expressed in S phase of the cell cycle. We monitored PCNA expression in satellite cells isolated from young (3 week) and adult (9 month) rats, and our results indicate that satellite cells begin to accumulate PCNA prior to changes in cell number in both age groups. Using ELISA techniques, we demonstrated that addition of an extract of crushed muscle (CME) activated satellite cells and significantly reduced the length of the lag phase in cells from both age groups. Addition of bFGF shortened the lag phase of PCNA synthesis in satellite cells from 3-week-old rats but had no effect on the kinetics of PCNA expression in cells from 9-month-old rats. Based on our experiments, PCNA expression can be used as a marker to follow the entry of satellite cells into the cell cycle in primary mass cultures. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the cytoplasm interacts with components of glycolysis and cancer

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is involved in a wide range of functions in the nucleus. However, a substantial amount of PCNA is also present in the cytoplasm, although their function is unknown. Here we show, through Far-Western blotting and mass spectrometry, that PCNA is associated with several cytoplasmic oncoproteins, including elongation factor, malate dehydrogenase, and peptidyl-prolyl isomerase. Surprisingly, PCNA is also associated with six glycolytic enzymes that are involved in the regulation of steps 4-9 in the glycolysis pathway.

Structured summary

MINT-7995351: G3P (uniprotkb:P04406) and PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) colocalize (MI:0403) by fluorescencemicroscopy (MI:0416)MINT-7995334: ENOA (uniprotkb:P06733) and PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) colocalize (MI:0403) by fluorescencemicroscopy (MI:0416)MINT-7995368: ALDOA (uniprotkb:P04075) and PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) colocalize (MI:0403) by fluorescencemicroscopy (MI:0416)MINT-7995141: G3P (uniprotkb:P04406) binds (MI:0407) to PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995182: ENOA (uniprotkb:P06733) binds (MI:0407) to PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995132: G3P (uniprotkb:P04406) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995228: PRDX6 (uniprotkb:P30041) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995220: CAH2 (uniprotkb:P00918) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995114: Triosephosphateisomerase (uniprotkb:P60174) binds (MI:0407) to PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995244: K2C7 (uniprotkb:P08729) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995252: ANXA2 (uniprotkb:P07355) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995122: Triosephosphateisomerase (uniprotkb:P60174) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995093: ALDOA (uniprotkb:P04075) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995148: PGK1 (uniprotkb:P00558) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995158: PGAM1 (uniprotkb:P18669) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995166: PGAM1 (uniprotkb:P18669) binds (MI:0407) to PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995105: ALDOA (uniprotkb:P04075) binds (MI:0407) to PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995260: PPIA (uniprotkb:P62937) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995173: ENOA (uniprotkb:P06733) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995268: EF1A (uniprotkb:P68104) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995236: MDHM (uniprotkb:P40926) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995189: RSSA (uniprotkb:P08865) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) by farwesternblotting (MI:0047)MINT-7995282: PCNA (uniprotkb:P12004) physicallyinteracts (MI:0915) with ALDOA (uniprotkb:P00883) and G3P (uniprotkb:P46406) by antibaitcoimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006).     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen: More than a clamp for DNA polymerases

DNA metabolic events such as replication, repair and recombination require the concerted action of several enzymes and cofactors. Nature has provided a set of proteins that support DNA polymerases in performing processive, accurate and rapid DNA synthesis. Two of them, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen and its adapter protein replication factor C, cooperate to form a moving platform that was initially thought of only as an anchor point for DNA polymerases δ and ε. It now appears that proliferating cell nuclear antigen is also a communication point between a variety of important cellular processes including cell cycle control, DNA replication, nucleotide excision repair, post-replication mismatch repair, base excision repair and at least one apoptotic pathway. The dynamic movement of proliferating cell nuclear antigen on and off the DNA renders this protein an ideal communicator for a variety of proteins that are essential for DNA metabolic events in eukaryotic cells.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin is an interleukin 2-responsive gene

Previously, we have shown that a protein designated p36 is synthesized at a high rate during interleukin 2-driven proliferation of a cloned T lymphocyte, L2. Biosynthesis of p36 increases 1000-fold during the initial mid-G1 phase of the cell cycle and remains high while the cells proliferate. In this report, we show that p36 has the same migration pattern by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)/cyclin and that antiserum to PCNA/cyclin selectively immunoprecipitates p36. In addition, by indirect immunofluorescence, PCNA/cyclin accumulates in the nucleus of interleukin 2-stimulated L2 cells during proliferation and is not detectable prior to the initial S phase or after proliferation ceases. These data indicate that PCNA/cyclin expression is induced by interleukin 2 and that PCNA/cyclin accumulation is closely associated with T lymphocyte proliferation.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen as the cell cycle sensor for an HLA-derived peptide blocking T cell proliferation

Synthetic peptides corresponding to structural regions of HLA molecules are novel immunosuppressive agents. A peptide corresponding to residues 65-79 of the alpha-chain of HLA-DQA03011 (DQ65-79) blocks cell cycle progression from early G1 to the G1 restriction point, which inhibits cyclin-dependent kinase-2 activity and phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. A yeast two-hybrid screen identified proliferating cell nuclear Ag (PCNA) as a cellular ligand for this peptide, whose interaction with PCNA was further confirmed by in vitro biochemistry. Electron microscopy demonstrates that the DQ65-79 peptide enters the cell and colocalizes with PCNA in the T cell nucleus in vivo. Binding of the DQ65-79 peptide to PCNA did not block polymerase delta (pol delta)-dependent DNA replication in vitro. These findings support a key role for PCNA as a sensor of cell cycle progression and reveal an unanticipated function for conserved regions of HLA molecules.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and p21 are components of multiple cell cycle kinase complexes.

We have recently shown that two proteins, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p21, are associated with cyclin D. Here we show that PCNA and p21 are common components of a wide variety of cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complexes in nontransformed cells. These include kinase complexes containing cyclin A, cyclin B, and cyclin D, associated either with CDC2, CDK2, CDK4, or CDK5. We show that PCNA and p21 form separate quaternary complex with each cyclin/CDK and that these quaternary complexes contain a substantial, if not major, fraction of the cell cycle kinases in asynchronously growing cells. These results suggest that PCNA and p21 may perform a common function for all these kinases.     

Structural-functional state of the thyroid gland after thymectomy]

The dynamics of morphologic and biochemical indices of the thyroid gland in puberal rats has been considered. The data obtained suggest that the thymus hormones deficiency in blood circulation after thymectomy affect thyroid-stimulating functions of adenopituitary and thyroliberin production in hypothalamus that results in significant depression of thyroid function, whereas the enhancement of thyroid function to 20-month follow-up has no central genesis but is rather a result of autoimmune processes activation when thymus is removed.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 antigen expression in human haematopoietic cells during growth stimulation and differentiation

Abstract. By flow cytometric dual parameter analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the Ki-67 antigen a detailed cell cycle analysis can be performed. In this study the co-ordinated expression of these two growth-related antigens was investigated in human haematopoietic cells at entrance into the cell cycle as well as at exit from the cycle. In mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes entering the first cell cycle, the Ki-67 antigen was found to be expressed in S phase cells and not in G₁ cells. Thus, the Ki-67 antigen expression in PCNA-positive S phase cells differed between continuously cycling cells and cells entering the cell cycle. Based on this difference, it was possible to visualize and evaluate the recruitment of cells into the first cell cycle from a resting stage. This new cell cycle parameter can give additional information concerning tumour growth. The Ki-67 antigen was also studied during different stages of G₁ and was found to be expressed at high levels in early G₁ cells compared with other parts of G₁.     

Phosphatase activities in rat liver before and after birth

Synopsis Several phosphatase enzymes have been studied biochemically and cytochemically to ascertain whether there are ontogenic changes in level or location. Nucleoside monophosphatase (5-nucleotidase) and lysosomal acid phosphatase are low in foetal liver and, unlike glucose-6-phosphatase, are still quite low in neonatal liver. Bile canaliculi show strong staining for 5-nucleotidase in adult liver but not in foetal or neonatal liver. Nucleoside diand triphosphatase activities in foetal liver are already near half the adult level. The diphosphatase that is active towards UDP shows the same cytochemical locations in neonatal liver as in adult liver. Triphosphatase activity in foetal and neonatal liver is located largely in star-like cells, rather than in the bile canaliculi of parenchymal cells. Biochemical comparison of foetal, neonatal and adult liver has shown that inorganic pyrophosphatase (assayed without Mg²⁺) parallels glucose-6-phosphatase, but acid ribonuclease does not parallel acid phosphatase. In albino rats injected with thyroxine, glucose-6-phosphatase has shown a more marked increase in foetal liver than in adult liver, although the uptake of thyroxine seemed to be less. In hooded rats, foetal liver showed a negligible uptake of thyroxine and no rise in glucose-6-phosphatase.A. A. El-Aaser is on leave from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Cairo.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen destabilizes c-Abl tyrosine kinase and regulates cell apoptosis in response to DNA damage

The tyrosine kinase, c-Abl, plays important roles in many aspects of cellular function. The activity of c-Abl is tightly controlled, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Recent studies suggest that c-Abl function is regulated by distinct lipids in different cell types. In the present study, we show that the DNA replication factor, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), interacts with c-Abl and destabilizes c-Abl by promoting its polyubiquitination and degradation. Moreover, deletion of a domain in c-Abl, the PIP box, disrupts its interaction with PCNA, abolishes the PCNA-induced degradation of nuclear c-Abl, and substantially increases the nuclear c-Abl apoptotic function. These findings indicate that PCNA negatively regulates the stability of c-Abl and thereby inhibits apoptosis in the response to DNA damage. Xiang He, Congwen Wei, and Ting Song contribute equally to this work. Wei Shi and Hui Zhong are co-correspondence authors.     

Calcitonin cell population and distribution in the thyroid gland of the rat

Calcitonin-containing cells (C cells) were identified in male Wistar white rats using an immunoperoxidase technique. They occupied a central position within the thyroid; very few were found peripherally, inferiorly, and superiorly; and none were present in the isthmus. The number of calcitonin-containing cells present per gram of body weight increased with age up to 70 days and had declined by 100 days. Determining the true total C-cell count through the entire thyroid is a very laborious procedure. However, a simple estimate of this total count can be made; the total number of C cells in every tenth section (6 microns) of thyroid was found to be highly correlated with the weight of the animal expressed as an allometric function. A better estimate can be derived from counts of just three sections: the tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth after the section of greatest cross sectional area.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) may function as a double homotrimer complex in the mammalian cell

The diverse function of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) may be regulated by interactions with different protein partners. Interestingly, the binding sites for all known PCNA-associating proteins are on the outer surface or the C termini ("front") sides of the PCNA trimer. Using cell extracts and purified human PCNA protein, we show here that two PCNA homotrimers form a back-to-back doublet. Mutation analysis suggests that the Arg-5 and Lys-110 residues on the PCNA back side are the contact points of the two homotrimers in the doublet. Furthermore, short synthetic peptides encompassing either Arg-5 or Lys-110 inhibit double trimer formation. We also found that a PCNA double trimer, but not a homotrimer alone, can simultaneously accommodate chromatin assembly factor-1 and polymerase delta. Together, our data supports a model that chromatin remodeling by chromatin assembly factor-1 (and, possibly, many other cellular activities) are tightly coupled with DNA replication (and repair) through a PCNA double trimer complex.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen is a novel inhibitory ligand for the natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp44

NK cells play an important role in the early immune response to cancer. The NKp44 activating receptor is the only natural cytotoxicity receptor that is expressed exclusively by primate NK cells, yet its cellular ligands remain largely unknown. Proliferating cell nuclear Ag (PCNA) is overexpressed in cancer cells. In this study, we show that the NKp44 receptor recognizes PCNA. Their interaction inhibits NK cell function through NKp44/ITIM. The physical interaction of NKp44 and PCNA is enabled by recruitment of target cell PCNA to the NK immunological synapse. We demonstrate that PCNA promotes cancer survival by immune evasion through inhibition of NKp44-mediated NK cell attack.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA): a key factor in DNA replication and cell cycle regulation

Background

PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) has been found in the nuclei of yeast, plant and animal cells that undergo cell division, suggesting a function in cell cycle regulation and/or DNA replication. It subsequently became clear that PCNA also played a role in other processes involving the cell genome.

Scope

This review discusses eukaryotic PCNA, with an emphasis on plant PCNA, in terms of the protein structure and its biochemical properties as well as gene structure, organization, expression and function. PCNA exerts a tripartite function by operating as (1) a sliding clamp during DNA synthesis, (2) a polymerase switch factor and (3) a recruitment factor. Most of its functions are mediated by its interactions with various proteins involved in DNA synthesis, repair and recombination as well as in regulation of the cell cycle and chromatid cohesion. Moreover, post-translational modifications of PCNA play a key role in regulation of its functions. Finally, a phylogenetic comparison of PCNA genes suggests that the multi-functionality observed in most species is a product of evolution.

Conclusions

Most plant PCNAs exhibit features similar to those found for PCNAs of other eukaryotes. Similarities include: (1) a trimeric ring structure of the PCNA sliding clamp, (2) the involvement of PCNA in DNA replication and repair, (3) the ability to stimulate the activity of DNA polymerase δ and (4) the ability to interact with p21, a regulator of the cell cycle. However, many plant genomes seem to contain the second, probably functional, copy of the PCNA gene, in contrast to PCNA pseudogenes that are found in mammalian genomes.     

Arabidopsis thaliana: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen 1 and 2 possibly form homo- and hetero-trimeric complexes in the plant cell

The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a key component of the eukaryotic DNA replication machinery. It also plays an important role in DNA repair mechanisms. Despite the intense scientific research on yeast and human PCNA, information describing the function of this protein in plants is still very limited. In the previous study Arabidopsis PCNA2 but not PCNA1 was proposed to be functionally important in DNA polymerase η-dependent postreplication repair. In addition to the above study, PCNA2 but not PCNA1 was also shown to be necessary for Arabidopsis DNA polymerase λ-dependent oxidative DNA damage bypass. Taking into account the reported differences between PCNA1 and PCNA2, we tested the idea of a possible cooperation between PCNA1 and PCNA2 in the plant cell. In a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay an interaction between PCNA1 and PCNA2 was observed in the nucleus, as well as in the cytoplasm. This finding, together with our previous results, indicates that PCNA1 and PCNA2 may cooperate in planta by forming homo- and heterotrimeric rings. The observed interaction might be relevant when distinct functions for PCNA1 and PCNA2 are considered.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen associates with histone deacetylase activity, integrating DNA replication and chromatin modification

Faithful inheritance of the chromatin structure is essential for maintaining the gene expression integrity of a cell. Histone modification by acetylation and deacetylation is a critical control of chromatin structure. In this study, we test the hypothesis that histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) is physically associated with a basic component of the DNA replication machinery as a mechanism of coordinating histone deacetylation and DNA synthesis. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a sliding clamp that serves as a loading platform for many proteins involved in DNA replication and DNA repair. We show that PCNA interacts with HDAC1 in human cells and in vitro and that a considerable fraction of PCNA and HDAC1 colocalize in the cell nucleus. PCNA associates with histone deacetylase activity that is completely abolished in the presence of the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A. Trichostatin A treatment arrests cells at the G(2)-M phase of the cell cycle, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the proper formation of the chromatin after DNA replication may be important in signaling the progression through the cell cycle. Our results strengthen the role of PCNA as a factor coordinating DNA replication and epigenetic inheritance.     

14C-1-Tyrosine metabolism on rat thyroid gland]

Amino acid composition of incubation medium, thyroid tissue hydrolysate and purified thyreoglobulin (Tr) preparations, isolated after 5 hour incubation with 14C-1-tyrosine in Jey medium is studied by means of electrophoresis and autoradiography. 5 radioactivity stains are detected on radioelectrophoregram of incubation medium, 2 of them corresponding to tyrosine and serine. 2 stains corresponding to diiodotyrosine and triiodotyronine are found in hydrolysate of thyroid tissue. No radioactive stains were found on radioelectrophoregrams of thyreoglobulin. The data obtained indicate that in the reaction of condensation of iodotyrosines into iodotyronine a lateral chain of iodotyrosine (serine) splits off. Thyroid hormones biosyntesis takes place by condensation of either a single free molecule of iodotyrosine with iodotyrosyl residue of polypeptide chain of pre-synthesized thyreoglobulin, or two free molecules of iodotyrosine.