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Abstract The eukaryotic helicase MCM2-7, is loaded by ORC, Cdc6 and Cdt1 as a double-hexamer onto replication origins. The insertion of DNA into the helicase leads to partial MCM2-7 ring closure, while ATP hydrolysis is essential for consecutive steps in pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) assembly. Currently it is unknown how MCM2-7 ring closure and ATP-hydrolysis are controlled. A cryo-EM structure of an ORC-Cdc6-Cdt1-MCM2-7 intermediate shows a remodelled, fully-closed Mcm2/Mcm5 interface. The Mcm5 C-terminus (C5) contacts Orc3 and specifically recognises this closed ring. Interestingly, we found that normal helicase loading triggers Mcm4 ATP-hydrolysis, which in turn leads to reorganisation of the MCM2-7 complex and Cdt1 release. However, defective MCM2-7 ring closure, due to mutations at the Mcm2/Mcm5 interface, leads to MCM2-7 ring splitting and complex disassembly. As such we identify Mcm4 as the key ATPase in regulating pre-RC formation. Crucially, a stable Mcm2/Mcm5 interface is essential for productive ATP-hydrolysis-dependent remodelling of the helicase.

Abstract Origin recognition complex (ORC)-dependent loading of the replicative helicase MCM2-7 onto replication origins in G1-phase forms the basis of replication fork establishment in S-phase. However, how ORC and MCM2-7 facilitate genome-wide DNA licensing is not fully understood. Mapping the molecular footprints of budding yeast ORC and MCM2-7 genome-wide, we discovered that MCM2-7 loading is associated with ORC release from origins and redistribution to non-origin sites. Our bioinformatic analysis revealed that origins are compact units, where a single MCM2-7 double hexamer blocks repetitive loading through steric ORC binding site occlusion. Analyses of A-elements and an improved B2-element consensus motif uncovered that DNA shape, DNA flexibility, and the correct, face-to-face spacing of the two DNA elements are hallmarks of ORC-binding and efficient helicase loading sites. Thus, our work identified fundamental principles for MCM2-7 helicase loading that explain how origin licensing is realised across the genome.

Mutations in the l(3)mbt tumour suppressor result in overproliferation of Drosophila larval brains. Recently, the derepression of different gene classes in l(3)mbt mutants was shown to be causal for transformation. However, the molecular mechanisms of dL(3)mbt-mediated gene repression are not understood. Here, we identify LINT, the major dL(3)mbt complex of Drosophila. LINT has three core subunits-dL(3)mbt, dCoREST, and dLint-1-and is expressed in cell lines, embryos, and larval brain. Using genome-wide ChIP-Seq analysis, we show that dLint-1 binds close to the TSS of tumour-relevant target genes. Depletion of the LINT core subunits results in derepression of these genes. By contrast, histone deacetylase, histone methylase, and histone demethylase activities are not required to maintain repression. Our results support a direct role of LINT in the repression of brain tumour-relevant target genes by restricting promoter access.