MCM2 — Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c

Summary

YBL023C (MCM2) on chromosome II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c encodes a core component of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex, a DNA helicase essential for replication initiation. The protein possesses DNA helicase activity, ATP hydrolase activity, DNA replication origin binding, nucleosome binding, chromatin binding, ssDNA binding, and H3-H4 histone carrier activity. MCM2 is associated with cell cycle DNA replication, mitotic DNA replication initiation, DNA replication licensing, MCM complex assembly and loading, double-strand break repair via break-induced replication, and response to auxin. It localizes to the MCM complex, nuclear pre-replicative complex, replication fork, heterochromatin, and telomeric regions. The gene is linked to UV and light sensitivity, oxidative stress, chronological lifespan, cell cycle arrest, decreased growth rate, increased mutation frequency, altered invasive and filamentous growth, decreased sporulation efficiency, increased thermotolerance, and altered chemical resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to DNA helicase activity (EC 3.6.4.12).