RLF2

UniProt ID: Q12495
Organism: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Review Status: COMPLETE
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Gene Description

RLF2 (CAC1) encodes Cac1, the large (p150-like) scaffold subunit of chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1), the heterotrimeric H3-H4 histone chaperone (Cac1-Cac2-Cac3/Msi1) that deposits newly synthesized histones H3-H4 onto DNA immediately behind the replication fork and at sites of repair synthesis. Cac1 organizes the complex, binding Cac2 and Cac3 through separate regions; its acidic region forms the histone-binding surface together with Cac2; a PIP box recruits CAF-1 to PCNA; and two DNA-binding modules (the KER coiled-coil region and a C-terminal winged helix domain) engage DNA once H3-H4 is bound, allowing two CAF-1-H3-H4 complexes to assemble an (H3-H4)2 tetrasome. Cac1 acts in the nucleus on replicating chromatin, and its association with chromatin is regulated by Cdc28 and Cdc7 phosphorylation in S phase. CAF-1 is not essential for growth, but cac1 mutants have reduced telomeric and HM-locus silencing (originally identified as altered Rap1 localization, hence RLF2), sensitivity to UV and double-strand-break agents, and centromeric chromatin defects in combination with hir mutations.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0000510 H3-H4 histone complex chaperone activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic inference that RLF2/Cac1 has H3-H4 histone complex chaperone activity.
Reason: Cac1 is the scaffold subunit of CAF-1 and carries the acidic (ED) histone-binding region and the winged-helix domain; a fragment of Cac1 alone can assemble tetrasomes, albeit less efficiently than Cac1-Cac2. The CAF-1 trimer binds one H3-H4 dimer and two CAF-1-H3-H4 complexes deposit an (H3-H4)2 tetramer onto DNA, which is the defining activity of an H3-H4 histone complex chaperone.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28315523
Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) is a H3-H4 histone chaperone that associates with the replisome and orchestrates chromatin assembly following DNA synthesis.
PMID:30239791
The CAF-1 trimer binds to a single H3-H4 dimer, which induces a conformational rearrangement in CAF-1 promoting its interaction with substrate DNA.
PMID:28315525
our data are in agreement with the model that Cac1 contributes substantially to H3-H4 binding while Cac2 and Cac3 provide accessory interactions
file:yeast/RLF2/RLF2-deep-research-falcon.md
It is a nuclear histone-chaperone scaffold.
GO:0000775 chromosome, centromeric region
IDA
PMID:11782447
Chromatin assembly factor I and Hir proteins contribute to b...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: RLF2/CAF-I is enriched at centromeres (ChIP).
Reason: Sharp et al. report that CAF-I subunits are enriched at centromeres and, redundantly with Hir proteins, contribute to functional kinetochore chromatin. The localization is credible (abstract states it directly; full text not cached) but reflects one of several genomic sites where CAF-1 assembles chromatin rather than a dedicated centromeric role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:11782447
CAF-I subunits and Hir1 are enriched at centromeres, indicating that these proteins make a direct contribution to centromeric chromatin structures
GO:0000785 chromatin
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic inference that RLF2/Cac1 is active on chromatin.
Reason: Cac1 associates with chromatin in S phase, regulated by CDK phosphorylation and PCNA binding.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25602519
The association of CAF-I with chromatin is impaired in a cdc28-1 mutant
PMID:11089978
All silencing defective mutants showed reduced binding to CAF-1 in vitro and altered chromatin association of the CAF-1 large subunit in vivo.
GO:0000785 chromatin
IDA
PMID:25602519
CDC28 phosphorylates Cac1p and regulates the association of ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Cac1p associates with chromatin in early S phase (chromatin fractionation).
Reason: Jeffery et al. show CAF-I association with chromatin that depends on Cdc28 phosphorylation of Cac1p; Zhang et al. independently show PCNA-dependent chromatin association of the CAF-1 large subunit. Chromatin is where CAF-1 acts.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25602519
The association of CAF-I with chromatin is impaired in a cdc28-1 mutant
PMID:11089978
All silencing defective mutants showed reduced binding to CAF-1 in vitro and altered chromatin association of the CAF-1 large subunit in vivo.
GO:0000786 nucleosome
IDA
PMID:30239791
Mechanistic insights into histone deposition and nucleosome ...
REMOVE
Summary: Complex Portal annotation placing RLF2 (a CAF-1 subunit) as part_of the nucleosome, citing a review of CAF-1 mechanism (PMID:30239791).
Reason: CAF-1 is a histone H3-H4 chaperone that deposits H3-H4 onto DNA to build the tetrasome; it is not a structural component of the nucleosome core particle, which consists of the histone octamer and DNA. The cited paper (full text cached; a review) describes CAF-1 binding a single H3-H4 dimer and depositing (H3-H4)2 tetramers onto nucleosome-free DNA, i.e. a transient assembly intermediate, not stable membership of the nucleosome. The part_of nucleosome claim is contradicted by the very source cited, so it is removed; the chaperone role is captured by GO:0006335 and CAF-1 complex membership (GO:0033186).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
The Histone chaperone Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) interacts with the replisome and deposits H3-H4 directly onto newly synthesized DNA.
PMID:30239791
Two CAF-1β€’H3-H4 complexes co-associate on nucleosome-free DNA depositing (H3-H4)2 tetramers in the first step of nucleosome assembly.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:10688190
A comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interactions in ...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Msi1/Cac3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. This is an interaction between subunits of the CAF-1 heterotrimer, which is captured informatively by part_of CAF-1 complex (GO:0033186).
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:11731480
The silencing complex SAS-I links histone acetylation to the...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Sas2.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. The Cac1-Sas2 link to the SAS-I acetyltransferase is of interest for silencing but does not define a Cac1 molecular function.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:11731480
The silencing complex SAS-I links histone acetylation to the...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Sas4.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. The Cac1-SAS-I association does not define a Cac1 molecular function.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:11805837
Systematic identification of protein complexes in Saccharomy...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Msi1/Cac3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. This is an interaction between subunits of the CAF-1 heterotrimer, which is captured informatively by part_of CAF-1 complex (GO:0033186).
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:16429126
Proteome survey reveals modularity of the yeast cell machine...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Msi1/Cac3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. This is an interaction between subunits of the CAF-1 heterotrimer, which is captured informatively by part_of CAF-1 complex (GO:0033186).
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:17825065
Yeast two-hybrid analysis of the origin recognition complex ...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Orc3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. Two-hybrid and interactome detections of an ORC association are not linked to a defined Cac1 activity.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:20967232
Subtle alterations in PCNA-partner interactions severely imp...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and PCNA (Pol30).
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. The Cac1-PCNA interaction (via the Cac1 PIP box) is biologically important for recruiting CAF-1 to replication forks and repair sites, but GO has no specific PCNA- or sliding-clamp-binding molecular function term; the consequence is captured by DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly (GO:0006335).
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:21179020
Defining the budding yeast chromatin-associated interactome.
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Msi1/Cac3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. This is an interaction between subunits of the CAF-1 heterotrimer, which is captured informatively by part_of CAF-1 complex (GO:0033186).
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:21179020
Defining the budding yeast chromatin-associated interactome.
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and PCNA (Pol30).
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. The Cac1-PCNA interaction (via the Cac1 PIP box) is biologically important for recruiting CAF-1 to replication forks and repair sites, but GO has no specific PCNA- or sliding-clamp-binding molecular function term; the consequence is captured by DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly (GO:0006335).
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:21179020
Defining the budding yeast chromatin-associated interactome.
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Orc3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. Two-hybrid and interactome detections of an ORC association are not linked to a defined Cac1 activity.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:37968396
The social and structural architecture of the yeast protein ...
REMOVE
Summary: Generic protein binding (IPI) between RLF2 and Msi1/Cac3.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative about molecular function. Removal does not mean the reported interaction is false. This is an interaction between subunits of the CAF-1 heterotrimer, which is captured informatively by part_of CAF-1 complex (GO:0033186).
GO:0005634 nucleus
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic inference that RLF2 is active in the nucleus.
Reason: CAF-1 acts on nuclear chromatin at replication forks; consistent with direct localization data.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
It localizes to sites of ongoing DNA synthesis by binding to the processivity factor for DNA polymerases known as Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)
GO:0005634 nucleus
IDA
PMID:9030688
RLF2, a subunit of yeast chromatin assembly factor-I, is req...
ACCEPT
Summary: Epitope-tagged Rlf2p localizes to the nucleus (immunofluorescence).
Reason: Direct localization consistent with CAF-1 function on nuclear chromatin.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030688
epitope-tagged Rlf2p expressed from the GAL10 promoter localizes to the nucleus
GO:0005634 nucleus
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: UniProt subcellular-location mapping places RLF2 in the nucleus.
Reason: Consistent with direct localization evidence and with CAF-1 function on nuclear chromatin.
GO:0006260 DNA replication
NAS
PMID:30239791
Mechanistic insights into histone deposition and nucleosome ...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Complex Portal NAS annotation of RLF2/CAF-1 to the broad process DNA replication.
Reason: CAF-1 does not synthesize or duplicate DNA; it couples nucleosome assembly to replication fork progression through PCNA binding. The replication-coupled role is precisely described by GO:0006335 (DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly), which is annotated with direct evidence. CAC genes are not essential for viability, and no DNA synthesis defect is reported for cac mutants, so the parent process DNA replication overstates the contribution.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
The Histone chaperone Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) interacts with the replisome and deposits H3-H4 directly onto newly synthesized DNA.
PMID:9030687
Genes encoding the CAF-I subunits (collectively referred to as CAC genes) are not essential for cell viability
GO:0006281 DNA repair
NAS
PMID:30239791
Mechanistic insights into histone deposition and nucleosome ...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Complex Portal NAS annotation of RLF2/CAF-1 to DNA repair.
Reason: Deletion of any CAC gene causes UV sensitivity, and cac1 deletion increases the UV sensitivity of mutants in every major repair epistasis group, consistent with CAF-1 restoring chromatin on repaired DNA (it assembles nucleosomes on templates undergoing nucleotide excision repair in vitro). CAF-1 is also required for resistance to double-strand-break agents, but it is not required for repair of the DNA per se. The contribution is chromatin restoration coupled to repair rather than a repair activity, so this is kept as a non-core, pleiotropic process.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030687
deletion of any CAC gene causes an increase in sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, without significantly increasing sensitivity to gamma rays
PMID:9927445
these data suggest that CAF-I has a role in error-free postreplicative damage repair and may also have an auxiliary role in other repair mechanisms
PMID:16143623
CAF-1 is not required for repair of the DNA per se or for DNA damage checkpoint function.
GO:0006325 chromatin organization
IDA
PMID:30239791
Mechanistic insights into histone deposition and nucleosome ...
MODIFY
Summary: Complex Portal annotation of RLF2/CAF-1 to the general process chromatin organization.
Reason: Correct but uninformative. CAF-1 organizes chromatin specifically by depositing newly synthesized H3-H4 onto replicating DNA; the specific child term GO:0006335 DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly is the appropriate term and is already supported by direct evidence for this subunit.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
The Histone chaperone Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) interacts with the replisome and deposits H3-H4 directly onto newly synthesized DNA.
GO:0006334 nucleosome assembly
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic inference that RLF2/Cac1 is involved in nucleosome assembly.
Reason: Correct: CAF-1 performs the first step of nucleosome assembly, deposition of (H3-H4)2 tetramers. The more specific GO:0006335 is also annotated; this parent term is accurate and harmless.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
Two CAF-1β€’H3-H4 complexes co-associate on nucleosome-free DNA depositing (H3-H4)2 tetramers in the first step of nucleosome assembly.
GO:0006335 DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic inference that RLF2/Cac1 is involved in DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly.
Reason: Core, conserved function of CAF-1; agrees with direct yeast biochemical and genetic evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
The Histone chaperone Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) interacts with the replisome and deposits H3-H4 directly onto newly synthesized DNA.
GO:0006335 DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly
IDA
PMID:30239791
Mechanistic insights into histone deposition and nucleosome ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Complex Portal annotation of RLF2/CAF-1 to DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly.
Reason: This is the defining function of CAF-1: the complex is recruited to replication forks via PCNA and deposits H3-H4 onto newly synthesized DNA. The cited paper (full text) summarizes the structural and biochemical work on the yeast complex.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:30239791
The Histone chaperone Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) interacts with the replisome and deposits H3-H4 directly onto newly synthesized DNA.
PMID:30239791
Two CAF-1β€’H3-H4 complexes co-associate on nucleosome-free DNA depositing (H3-H4)2 tetramers in the first step of nucleosome assembly.
GO:0006335 DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly
IDA
PMID:9030687
Ultraviolet radiation sensitivity and reduction of telomeric...
ACCEPT
Summary: RLF2 is a subunit of yeast CAF-I purified by Kaufman et al. using an in vitro replication-coupled nucleosome assembly assay.
Reason: Kaufman et al. purified yeast CAF-I as the activity that assembles nucleosomes onto DNA undergoing replication in vitro, and identified CAC1/RLF2, CAC2 and CAC3/MSI1 as the genes for its three subunits. This is the founding biochemical evidence for the core function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030687
we now report the purification of CAF-I from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
PMID:9030687
The CAC1 and CAC2 (chromatin assembly complex) genes encode proteins similar to the p150 and p60 subunits of human CAF-I, respectively
PMID:9030687
The gene encoding the p50 subunit of yeast CAF-I (CAC3) is similar to the human p48 CAF-I subunit and was identified previously as MSI1
GO:0006335 DNA replication-dependent chromatin assembly
IMP
PMID:9030688
RLF2, a subunit of yeast chromatin assembly factor-I, is req...
ACCEPT
Summary: rlf2 mutants perturb telomeric chromatin; RLF2 is identical to CAC1.
Reason: Enomoto et al. show rlf2 mutants have reduced telomeric silencing and altered Rap1p distribution, identify RLF2 as CAC1, and propose that Rlf2p facilitates assembly of histones into chromatin. Together with the biochemical assays of Kaufman et al., this supports the in vivo role in replication-coupled chromatin assembly.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030688
We propose that Rlf2p facilitates the efficient and timely assembly of histones into telomeric chromatin
PMID:9030688
This study provides evidence that yCAF-I is required for the function and organization of telomeric chromatin in vivo
GO:0033186 CAF-1 complex
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic inference that RLF2 is a CAF-1 complex subunit.
Reason: The IBA agrees with direct biochemical evidence for the yeast protein (it appears among the IBA sources, as expected when the target carries its own experimental annotation). CAF-1 subunit composition is conserved from yeast to human.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030687
The CAC1 and CAC2 (chromatin assembly complex) genes encode proteins similar to the p150 and p60 subunits of human CAF-I, respectively
GO:0033186 CAF-1 complex
IDA
PMID:9030687
Ultraviolet radiation sensitivity and reduction of telomeric...
ACCEPT
Summary: RLF2 identified as a subunit of purified yeast CAF-I.
Reason: Direct purification and peptide sequencing of yeast CAF-I identified the three subunits encoded by CAC1 (RLF2), CAC2 and CAC3 (MSI1). The recombinant heterotrimer has since been reconstituted and characterized structurally.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030687
we now report the purification of CAF-I from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
PMID:9030687
The CAC1 and CAC2 (chromatin assembly complex) genes encode proteins similar to the p150 and p60 subunits of human CAF-I, respectively
PMID:9030687
The gene encoding the p50 subunit of yeast CAF-I (CAC3) is similar to the human p48 CAF-I subunit and was identified previously as MSI1
PMID:28315525
Budding yeast CAF1 (yCAF1) is a heterotrimeric complex containing the Cac1, Cac2 and Cac3 subunits (Kaufman et al., 1997).
GO:0033186 CAF-1 complex
IPI
PMID:30239791
Mechanistic insights into histone deposition and nucleosome ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Complex Portal annotation of RLF2 as a CAF-1 complex subunit.
Reason: Consistent with the purification of yeast CAF-I and the reconstitution of the Cac1-Cac2-Cac3 heterotrimer.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28315525
Budding yeast CAF1 (yCAF1) is a heterotrimeric complex containing the Cac1, Cac2 and Cac3 subunits (Kaufman et al., 1997).
GO:0042393 histone binding
IDA
PMID:16503640
Chromatin assembly factor 1 interacts with histone H3 methyl...
ACCEPT
Summary: RLF2 contributes to H3-H4 binding by CAF-1; CAF-1 was co-purified with H3 and H4 from yeast cells.
Reason: Yeast CAF-1 was isolated from cells in complex with H3 and H4 carrying newly-synthesized histone marks (H4K5/K12ac, H3K56ac). Structural work shows the H3-H4 binding site is formed by the acidic region of Cac1 in conjunction with Cac2, so contributes_to histone binding is appropriate for RLF2. The more specific activity, H3-H4 histone complex chaperone activity, is captured in core_functions.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16503640
we have purified a complex containing CAF-1 and H3 and H4 from yeast cells
PMID:28315523
On CAF-1, the H3-H4 binding site is formed by the acidic region of Cac1 (Liu et al., 2016), in conjunction with Cac1-bound Cac2 (Mattiroli et al., 2017).
GO:0003677 DNA binding
IDA
PMID:26908650
A DNA binding winged helix domain in CAF-1 functions with PC...
NEW
Summary: Proposed: Cac1 binds DNA directly through its C-terminal winged helix domain and its KER region.
Reason: Zhang et al. solved the Cac1 C-terminal winged-helix domain and showed it binds DNA sequence-independently; mutations abolishing DNA binding cause silencing defects and damage sensitivity. Sauer et al. identified a second DNA-binding region (KER) in Cac1 required for high-affinity DNA binding by the trimer, and Mattiroli et al. showed H3-H4 binding activates WHD-DNA engagement during tetrasome assembly. DNA binding is a direct, mechanistically required activity of Cac1 not captured by any existing row.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:26908650
We show that Cac1C forms a winged helix domain (WHD) and binds DNA in a sequence-independent manner.
PMID:26908650
Mutations in Cac1C that abolish DNA binding result in defects in transcriptional silencing and increased sensitivity to DNA damaging agents
PMID:28315525
We identify a new DNA-binding domain in the large Cac1 subunit of CAF1, which is required for high-affinity DNA binding by the CAF1 three-subunit complex
PMID:28315523
We show that yeast CAF-1 binding to a H3-H4 dimer activates the Cac1 winged helix domain interaction with DNA.
GO:0031509 subtelomeric heterochromatin formation
IMP
PMID:9030687
Ultraviolet radiation sensitivity and reduction of telomeric...
NEW
Summary: Proposed: RLF2, as a CAF-1 subunit, is involved in subtelomeric heterochromatin formation.
Reason: Deletion of any CAC gene strongly reduces silencing of telomere-adjacent reporters, and loss of CAF-I subunits destabilizes HML repression. Participation test: CAF-1 performs a step of the process itself, depositing H3-H4 into the chromatin that Sir proteins then compact (Enomoto et al. propose Rlf2p facilitates timely assembly of histones into telomeric chromatin); it is not merely a substrate or upstream requirement. Comparator check: the partner H3-H4 chaperone ASF1 (P32447) already carries GO:0031509 and GO:0030466 by IGI (PMID:15840725), as does SIR3 by IMP, so the term is used for chromatin-assembly factors in yeast; the CAF-1 subunits currently carry no heterochromatin-formation annotation at all in GOA. This is proposed as non-core relative to the general replication-coupled assembly function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9030687
Deletion of CAC genes also strongly reduces silencing of genes adjacent to telomeric DNA
PMID:9030688
We propose that Rlf2p facilitates the efficient and timely assembly of histones into telomeric chromatin
PMID:26908650
Mutations in Cac1C that abolish DNA binding result in defects in transcriptional silencing and increased sensitivity to DNA damaging agents

Core Functions

Cac1 is the scaffold subunit of CAF-1 and, within the complex, carries out H3-H4 histone complex chaperone activity: its acidic region together with Cac2 binds one H3-H4 dimer, and histone binding activates Cac1 DNA-binding modules so that two CAF-1-H3-H4 complexes deposit an (H3-H4)2 tetramer onto DNA.

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:28418026
    Strikingly, H3-H4 binding is mediated by a composite interface, shaped by Cac1-bound Cac2 and the Cac1 acidic region.
  • PMID:28418026
    The large subunit, Cac1 organizes the assembly of CAF-1.
  • PMID:30239791
    The CAF-1 trimer binds to a single H3-H4 dimer, which induces a conformational rearrangement in CAF-1 promoting its interaction with substrate DNA.
  • PMID:28315523
    We show that yeast CAF-1 binding to a H3-H4 dimer activates the Cac1 winged helix domain interaction with DNA.
  • file:yeast/RLF2/RLF2-deep-research-falcon.md
    It is a nuclear histone-chaperone scaffold.

Cac1 binds DNA through a C-terminal winged-helix domain and an N-terminal KER region; together with PIP-box binding to PCNA this retains CAF-1 at replication forks for replication-coupled nucleosome assembly.

Molecular Function:
DNA binding
Cellular Locations:
In Complex:
CAF-1 complex
Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:26908650
    We show that Cac1C forms a winged helix domain (WHD) and binds DNA in a sequence-independent manner.
  • PMID:28315525
    We identify a new DNA-binding domain in the large Cac1 subunit of CAF1, which is required for high-affinity DNA binding by the CAF1 three-subunit complex
  • PMID:30239791
    The PIP-box motif mediates the interaction with PCNA
  • PMID:11089978
    All silencing defective mutants showed reduced binding to CAF-1 in vitro and altered chromatin association of the CAF-1 large subunit in vivo.

References

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Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: Does the PCNA-binding PIP box of Cac1 warrant a dedicated GO molecular function term (sliding clamp binding), given its central role in recruiting CAF-1 to replication and repair sites?

Q: Should CAF-1 subunits carry silent mating-type cassette heterochromatin formation (GO:0030466), given that CAF-I is needed for maintenance but not re-establishment of HML silencing?

Q: How do Cdc28 and Cdc7 phosphorylation of Cac1 coordinate CAF-1 chromatin loading with S-phase progression independently of PCNA binding?

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Combine Cac1 WHD and KER DNA-binding mutants with PIP-box mutants and measure CAF-1 occupancy on nascent chromatin (e.g. by nascent-chromatin capture) and tetrasome assembly kinetics in vivo.

Hypothesis: DNA binding and PCNA binding act additively to retain CAF-1 behind the fork, and loss of both abolishes replication-coupled H3-H4 deposition.

Type: genetic and genomic

Deep Research

Falcon

(RLF2-deep-research-falcon.md)

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