Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42151158›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Distinct roles of MCM2-7 subunits in replication licensing in human cells.

Xinyu Fan, Wai Hei Lam, Daqi Yu, Huadong Jiang, Yan Chit Hui, Qiongdan Zhang, Weiran Li, Jian Li, Ziyang Lin, Zhan Yin and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Xinyu Fan *Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9654-8761
Wai Hei Lam *Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Daqi Yu *Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8014-5802
Huadong JiangDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Yan Chit HuiDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Qiongdan ZhangDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Weiran LiThe First Clinical College, Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.
Jian LiSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Ziyang LinSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Zhan YinDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3846-0147
Wenxiong WuSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yingyi ZhangBiological Cryo-EM Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6478-476X
Nan LiuSchool of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4102-2428
Masato T KanemakiNational Institute of Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), Shizuoka, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7657-1649
Shangyu DangDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9141-1865
Yuanliang ZhaiDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China. zhai@ust.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8897-6416

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Eukaryotic DNA replication requires the precise assembly of MCM2-7 single hexamers (SHs) into head-to-head double hexamers (DHs) at replication origins. While DH formation is well-characterized in budding yeast, the underlying mechanisms in human cells remain poorly understood. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of endogenous human MCM2-7 SH isolated from G1-phase cells. In these structures, human MCM2-7 adopts a latched spiral conformation in an autoinhibited state where the carboxyl-terminal extension (CTE) of MCM5 occupies the central channel, and MCM3-CTE is capable of locking the MCM2-5 gate to occlude DNA entry. Systematic functional analysis demonstrates that the six CTEs of MCM2-7 play distinct roles in SH stability, MCM loading, and DH formation on chromatin. Surprisingly, unlike in yeast, the human MCM3-CTE is dispensable for cell viability but ensures efficient genome-wide replication initiation. Our findings establish how human MCM2-7 enables flexible yet precise MCM loading via its CTEs, providing a framework for understanding the regulation of DNA replication initiation in higher eukaryotes.

Indexed as

DNA ReplicationMinichromosome Maintenance ProteinsCell Cycle ProteinsChromatinCryoelectron MicroscopyG1 PhaseHeLa CellsHumansMinichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 3Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7Protein SubunitsReplication OriginCell Cycle ProteinsChromatinMCM2 protein, humanMCM3 protein, humanMCM5 protein, humanMCM7 protein, humanMinichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 3Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7Minichromosome Maintenance ProteinsProtein Subunits

Identifiers

PMID42151158
PMCPMC13388693

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.