The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is required for rereplication control in endoreplication cycles

Genes Dev. 2008 Jun 15;22(12):1690-703. doi: 10.1101/gad.469108.

Abstract

Endoreplicating cells undergo multiple rounds of DNA replication leading to polyploidy or polyteny. Oscillation of Cyclin E (CycE)-dependent kinase activity is the main driving force in Drosophila endocycles. High levels of CycE-Cdk2 activity trigger S phase, while down-regulation of CycE-Cdk2 activity is crucial to allow licensing of replication origins. In mitotic cells relicensing in S phase is prevented by Geminin. Here we show that Geminin protein oscillates in endoreplicating salivary glands of Drosophila. Geminin levels are high in S phase, but drop once DNA replication has been completed. DNA licensing is coupled to mitosis through the action of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). We demonstrate that, even though endoreplicating cells never enter mitosis, APC/C activity is required in endoreplicating cells to mediate Geminin oscillation. Down-regulation of APC/C activity results in stabilization of Geminin protein and blocks endocycle progression. Geminin is only abundant in cells with high CycE-Cdk2 activity, suggesting that APC/C-Fzr activity is periodically inhibited by CycE-Cdk2, to prevent relicensing in S-phase cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cdh1 Proteins
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / physiology*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclin E / physiology
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / physiology
  • DNA Replication / genetics
  • DNA Replication / physiology*
  • DNA Replication Timing / genetics
  • DNA Replication Timing / physiology*
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology
  • Geminin
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Mitosis / genetics
  • Models, Biological
  • Replication Origin / physiology
  • Salivary Glands / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes / physiology*

Substances

  • Cdh1 Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin E
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Geminin
  • Rca1 protein, Drosophila
  • fzr protein, Drosophila
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
  • Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2
  • cdk2 protein, Drosophila