DNA replication is essential for living organisms to faithfully deliver genetic information from parental cells to daughter cells. Many proteins are assembled on the parental DNA to work as replication machineries. Among them, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a key replication protein. This ring-structured molecule encircles chromosomes, thread-like structures where DNA molecules is packed into, during DNA replication. Just like a ring on a string, PCNA-ring is tightly linked to DNA. After its landing on DNA, PCNA recruits other proteins to efficiently copy the parental DNA. PCNA’s stable connection to DNA makes it an essential platform for many replication machineries.
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Source: Phys.org