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Genomic specification and epigenetic regulation of eukaryotic DNA replication origins
Author(s) -
Antequera Francisco
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600450
Subject(s) - biology , epigenetics , genetics , dna replication , dna re replication , eukaryotic dna replication , dna methylation , origin recognition complex , computational biology , dna , origin of replication , control of chromosome duplication , gene , gene expression
Identification of DNA replication origins (ORIs) at a genome‐wide level in eukaryotes has proved to be difficult due to the high degree of degeneracy of their sequences. Recent structural and functional approaches, however, have circumvented this limitation and have provided reliable predictions of their genomic distribution in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe , and they have also significantly increased the number of characterized ORIs in animals. This article reviews recent evidence on how ORIs are specified and maintained in these systems and on their regulation and sensitivity to epigenetic signals. It also discusses the possible additional involvement of ORIs in processes other than DNA replication.