CDC7 antibody [DCS-341]

DNA replication in eukaryotic cells is dependent on the phosphorylation of the pre-replicative complex (preRC) at the origin of replication. Two complexes of proteins mediate this event, the cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) complex, and the Cdc7 kinase-ASK complex. The involvement of the latter complex in DNA replication was shown by different assays such as injection of antibodies against Cdc7 kinase that caused inhibition of DNA replication. Furthermore, mutant mice lacking mouse Cdc7 kinase are early embryonic lethal at E3.5-6.5.1-3 Human Cdc7 kinase consists of 574 amino acids with a molecular weight of 55 kDa. The protein shares about 45% identity with yeast Cdc7 kinase in the kinase domain. Cdc7 kinase is inert as a kinase unless it is activated by the ASK protein (the human homologue of yeast Dbf4). The expression of ASK is tightly regulated with cell cycle. ASK protein level is very low at the M-G1 phase and increases at late G1, staying high during S phase and through G2 phase. As a consequence, the activity of Cdc7 kinase oscillates during cell cycle. The major targets of Cdc7 kinase are proteins that belong to the MCM complex (mini chromosome maintenance proteins). The phosphorylation of proteins of the MCM complex by Cdc7 kinase is important for complex reorganization and duplex unwinding activity in the replication fork. Cdc7 kinase was also found to be important in meiosis, checkpoint responses, maintenance of chromosome structure, and repair.