Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of human Geminin coiled-coil domain

Geminin-Cdt1 balance is critical for genetic stability

A cell limits its DNA replication activity to once per cell division cycle to maintain its genomic integrity. Studies in a variety of organisms are elucidating how these controls are exercised. Key amongst these is the regulation of replication initiator proteins such as Cdt1. Cdt1 is present in cells in G1 phase where it is required for initiation of replication. Once origins have fired, Cdt1 is either exported out of the nucleus or degraded, thereby preventing another round of replication. Higher eukaryotes have evolved another redundant mechanism, an inhibitor called geminin, to restrain Cdt1 activity. Studies in multiple organisms have shown that unregulated Cdt1 activity stimulates overreplication of the genome. Interestingly, the same seems to be true when geminin is depleted. The imbalance in the activities of these proteins causes the activation of key checkpoint proteins, the ATM/ATR kinases and the tumor suppressor, p53. This review proposes that a balance between Cdt1 and geminin is important for maintaining genomic stability.

DNA replication licensing in somatic and germ cells

The DNA replication (or origin) licensing system ensures precise duplication of the genome in each cell cycle and is a powerful regulator of cell proliferation in metazoa. Studies in yeast, Drosophila melanogaster and Xenopus laevis have characterised the molecular machinery that constitutes the licensing system, but it remains to be determined how this important evolutionary conserved pathway is regulated in Homo sapiens. We have investigated regulation of the origin licensing factors Cdc6, Cdt1, Mcm2 and Geminin in human somatic and germ cells. Cdc6 and Cdt1 play an essential role in DNA replication initiation by loading the Mcm2-7 complex, which is required for unwinding the DNA helix, onto chromosomal origins. Geminin is a repressor of origin licensing that blocks Mcm2-7 loading onto origins. Our studies demonstrate that Cdc6, Cdt1 and Mcm2 play a central role in coordinating growth during the proliferation-differentiation switch in somatic self-renewing systems and that Cdc6 expression is rate-limiting for acquisition of replication competence in primary oocytes. In striking contrast, we show that proliferation control during male gametogenesis is not linked to Cdc6 or Mcm2, but appears to be coordinated by the negative regulator Geminin with Cdt1 becoming rate-limiting in late prophase. Our data demonstrate a striking sexual dimorphism in the mechanisms repressing origin licensing and preventing untimely DNA synthesis during meiosis I, implicating a pivotal role for Geminin in maintaining integrity of the male germline genome.

Crystal structure of the coiled-coil dimerization motif of geminin: structural and functional insights on DNA replication regulation

We have determined the crystal structure of the coiled-coil domain of human geminin, a DNA synthesis inhibitor in higher eukaryotes. We show that a peptide encompassing the five heptad repeats of the geminin leucine zipper (LZ) domain is a dimeric parallel coiled coil characterized by a unique pattern of internal polar residues and a negatively charged surface that may target the basic domain of interacting partners. We show that the LZ domain itself is not sufficient to inhibit DNA synthesis but upstream and downstream residues are required. Analysis of a functional form of geminin by density sedimentation indicates an oligomeric structure. X-ray solution scattering experiments performed on a non-functional form of geminin having upstream basic residues and the LZ domain show a tetramer structure. Altogether, these results give a consistent identification and mapping of geminin interacting regions onto structurally important domains. They also suggest that oligomerization properties of geminin may be implicated in its inhibitory activity of DNA synthesis.

Molecular structure of human geminin

The origin licensing repressor geminin is a unique bifunctional protein providing a molecular link between cellular proliferation, differentiation and genomic stability. Here we report the first molecular structure of human geminin, determined by EM and image processing at a resolution of 17.5 A. The geminin molecule is a tetramer formed by two dimers with monomers interacting via coiled-coil domains. The unusual structural organization of geminin provides molecular insight into its bifunctional nature.

A dimerized coiled-coil domain and an adjoining part of geminin interact with two sites on Cdt1 for replication inhibition

Geminin is a cellular protein that associates with Cdt1 and inhibits Mcm2-7 loading during S phase. It prevents multiple cycles of replication per cell cycle and prevents episome replication. It also directly inhibits the HoxA11 transcription factor. Here we report that geminin forms a parallel coiled-coil homodimer with atypical residues in the dimer interface. Point mutations that disrupt the dimerization abolish interaction with Cdt1 and inhibition of replication. An array of glutamic acid residues on the coiled-coil domain surface interacts with positive charges in the middle of Cdt1. An adjoining region interacts independently with the N-terminal 100 residues of Cdt1. Both interactions are essential for replication inhibition. The negative residues on the coiled-coil domain and a different part of geminin are also required for interaction with HoxA11. Therefore a rigid cylinder with negative surface charges is a critical component of a bipartite interaction interface between geminin and its cellular targets.

Protein kinase CK2 phosphorylates the cell cycle regulatory protein Geminin

Geminin contributes to cell cycle regulation by a timely inhibition of Cdt1p, the loading factor required for the assembly of pre-replication complexes. Geminin is expressed during S and G2 phase of the HeLa cell cycle and phosphorylated soon after its synthesis. We show here that Geminin is an excellent substrate for protein kinase CK2 in vitro; and that the highly specific CK2 inhibitor tetrabromobenzotriazole (TBB) blocks the phosphorylation of Geminin in HeLa protein extracts and HeLa cells in vivo. The sites of CK2 phosphorylation are located in the carboxyterminal region of Geminin, which carries several consensus sequence motifs for CK2. We also show that a minor phosphorylating activity in protein extracts can be attributed to glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), which most likely targets a central peptide in Geminin. Treatment of HeLa cells with TBB does not interfere with the ability of Geminin to interact with the loading factor Cdt1.