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The Eukaryotic Replisome: a Guide to Protein Structure and Function pp 281–299Cite as

PCNA Structure and Function: Insights from Structures of PCNA Complexes and Post-translationally Modified PCNA

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Part of the book series: Subcellular Biochemistry ((SCBI,volume 62))

Abstract

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), the eukaryotic DNA sliding clamp, forms a ring-shaped homo-trimer that encircles double-stranded DNA. This protein is best known for its ability to confer high processivity to replicative DNA polymerases. However, it does far more than this, because it forms a mobile platform on the DNA that recruits many of the proteins involved in DNA replication, repair, and recombination to replication forks. X-ray crystal structures of PCNA bound to PCNA-binding proteins have provided insights into how PCNA recognizes its binding partners and recruits them to replication forks. More recently, X-ray crystal structures of ubiquitin-modified and SUMO-modified PCNA have provided insights into how these post-translational modifications alter the specificity of PCNA for some of its binding partners. This article focuses on the insights gained from structural studies of PCNA complexes and post-translationally modified PCNA.

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Acknowledgements

This article was supported by Award Number GM081433 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to M.T.W. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of General Medical sciences or the National Institutes of Health. We thank Christine Kondratick, John Pryor and Marc Wold for valuable discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1109, USA

    Lynne M. Dieckman & Bret D. Freudenthal

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 4-403 Bowen Science Building, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1109, USA

    M. Todd Washington

Authors
  1. Lynne M. Dieckman
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  2. Bret D. Freudenthal
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  3. M. Todd Washington
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Correspondence to M. Todd Washington .

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  1. , School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, Fife, United Kingdom

    Stuart MacNeill

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Dieckman, L.M., Freudenthal, B.D., Washington, M.T. (2012). PCNA Structure and Function: Insights from Structures of PCNA Complexes and Post-translationally Modified PCNA. In: MacNeill, S. (eds) The Eukaryotic Replisome: a Guide to Protein Structure and Function. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 62. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4572-8_15

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