FEATURES

FAMILY

DESCRIPTION

Also known as MCM2_YEAST, MCM2. Acts as component of the MCM2-7 complex (MCM complex) which is the putative replicative helicase essential for 'once per cell cycle' DNA replication initiation and elongation in eukaryotic cells. The active ATPase sites in the MCM2-7 ring are formed through the interaction surfaces of two neighboring subunits such that a critical structure of a conserved arginine finger motif is provided in trans relative to the ATP-binding site of the Walker A box of the adjacent subunit. The six ATPase active sites, however, are likely to contribute differentially to the complex helicase activity; specifically the MCM2-MCM5 association is proposed to be reversible and to mediate a open ring conformation which may facilitate DNA loading. Once loaded onto DNA, double hexamers can slide on dsDNA in the absence of ATPase activity. Necessary for cell growth. Component of the MCM2-7 complex. The complex forms a toroidal hexameric ring with the proposed subunit order MCM2-MCM6-MCM4-MCM7-MCM3-MCM5; loaded onto DNA, forms a head-head double hexamer.

EXTERNAL LINKS

MCM2

Mutations

Mutation(s) distribution

Mutations table