Skip to main content

The Multiple Roles of Ubiquitylation in Regulating Challenged DNA Replication

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
DNA Replication

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1042))

Abstract

DNA replication is essential for the propagation of life and the development of complex organisms. However, replication is a risky process as it can lead to mutations and chromosomal alterations. Conditions challenging DNA synthesis by replicative polymerases or DNA helix unwinding, generally termed as replication stress, can halt replication fork progression. Stalled replication forks are unstable, and mechanisms exist to protect their integrity, which promote an efficient restart of DNA synthesis and counteract fork collapse characterized by the accumulation of DNA lesions and mutagenic events. DNA replication is a highly regulated process, and several mechanisms control replication timing and integrity both during unperturbed cell cycles and in response to replication stress. Work over the last two decades has revealed that key steps of DNA replication are controlled by conjugation of the small peptide ubiquitin. While ubiquitylation was traditionally linked to protein degradation, the complexity and flexibility of the ubiquitin system in regulating protein function have recently emerged. Here we review the multiple roles exerted by ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and ubiquitin-specific proteases, as well as readers of ubiquitin chains, in the control of eukaryotic DNA replication and replication-coupled DNA damage tolerance and repair.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

Download references

Acknowledgments

We apologize for relevant findings and studies that might have not been discussed due to space limitations. This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BFU2014-52529-R to R.B. and BFU2015-69709-P to A.B.). S.V-H received support from the Spanish Formación de Personal Investigador (FPI) program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodrigo Bermejo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Villa-Hernández, S., Bueno, A., Bermejo, R. (2017). The Multiple Roles of Ubiquitylation in Regulating Challenged DNA Replication. In: Masai, H., Foiani, M. (eds) DNA Replication. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1042. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6955-0_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics