Replisome assembly at eukaryotic replication forks connects the DNA helicase to DNA polymerases and many other factors. The helicase binds the leading-strand polymerase directly, but is connected to the Pol alpha lagging-strand polymerase by the trimeric adaptor Ctf4. Here, we identify new Ctf4 partners in addition to Pol alpha and helicase, all of which contain a "Ctf4-interacting-peptide" or CIP-box. Crystallographic analysis classifies CIP-boxes into two related groups that target different sites on Ctf4. Mutations in the CIP-box motifs of the Dna2 nuclease or the rDNA-associated protein Tof2 do not perturb DNA synthesis genome-wide, but instead lead to a dramatic shortening of chromosome 12 that contains the large array of rDNA repeats. Our data reveal unexpected complexity of Ctf4 function, as a hub that connects multiple accessory factors to the replisome. Most strikingly, Ctf4-dependent recruitment of CIP-box proteins couples other processes to DNA synthesis, including rDNA copy-number regulation.
Author(s):
PubMed:
27397685
Villa, F. Simon, A. C. Ortiz Bazan, M. A. Kilkenny, M. L. Wirthensohn, D. Wightman, M. Matak-Vinkovic, D. Pellegrini, L. Labib, K.