Function: Auxiliary protein of DNA polymerase delta and is involved in the control of eukaryotic DNA replication by increasing the polymerase's processibility during elongation of the leading strand. Induces a robust stimulatory effect on the 3'-5' exonuclease and 3'-phosphodiesterase, but not apurinic-apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease, APEX2 activities. Has to be loaded onto DNA in order to be able to stimulate APEX2. Plays a key role in DNA damage response (DDR) by being conveniently positioned at the replication fork to coordinate DNA replication with DNA repair and DNA damage tolerance pathways. Acts as a loading platform to recruit DDR proteins that allow completion of DNA replication after DNA damage and promote postreplication repair: Monoubiquitinated PCNA leads to recruitment of translesion (TLS) polymerases, while 'Lys-63'-linked polyubiquitination of PCNA is involved in error-free pathway and employs recombination mechanisms to synthesize across the lesion. Ref.29 Ref.31
Subunit structure: Homotrimer
By similarity. Forms a complex with activator 1 heteropentamer in the presence of ATP. Interacts with EXO1, POLH, POLK, DNMT1, ERCC5, FEN1, CDC6 and POLDIP2. Interacts with APEX2; this interaction is triggered by reactive oxygen species and increased by misincorporation of uracil in nuclear DNA. Forms a ternary complex with DNTTIP2 and core histone. Interacts with KCTD10 and PPP1R15A
By similarity. Interacts with POLD1, POLD3 and POLD4. Interacts with BAZ1B; the interaction is direct. Interacts with HLTF and SHPRH. Interacts with NUDT15. Interaction is disrupted in response to UV irradiation and acetylation. Interacts with CDKN1A/p21(CIP1) and CDT1; interacts via their PIP-box which also recruits the DCX(DTL) complex. Interacts with DDX11. Interacts with EGFR; positively regulates PCNA. Interacts with PARPBP. Interacts (when ubiquitinated) with SPRTN; leading to enhance RAD18-mediated PCNA ubiquitination. Interacts (when polyubiquitinated) with ZRANB3. Interacts with SMARCAD1. Interacts with CDKN1C. Interacts with KIAA0101/PAF15 (via PIP-box). Ref.10 Ref.11 Ref.12 Ref.13 Ref.14 Ref.15 Ref.16 Ref.17 Ref.18 Ref.19 Ref.20 Ref.21 Ref.22 Ref.23 Ref.26 Ref.27 Ref.28 Ref.29 Ref.30 Ref.31 Ref.32 Ref.36 Ref.37 Ref.38 Ref.39 Ref.40 Ref.41 Ref.42 Ref.43 Ref.44
Subcellular location: Nucleus. Note: Forms nuclear foci representing sites of ongoing DNA replication and vary in morphology and number during S phase. Together with APEX2, is redistributed in discrete nuclear foci in presence of oxidative DNA damaging agents.
Post-translational modification: Following DNA damage, can be either monoubiquitinated to stimulate direct bypass of DNA lesions by specialized DNA polymerases or polyubiquitinated to promote recombination-dependent DNA synthesis across DNA lesions by template switching mechanisms. Following induction of replication stress, monoubiquitinated by the UBE2B-RAD18 complex on Lys-164, leading to recruit translesion (TLS) polymerases, which are able to synthesize across DNA lesions in a potentially error-prone manner. An error-free pathway also exists and requires non-canonical polyubiquitination on Lys-164 through 'Lys-63' linkage of ubiquitin moieties by the E2 complex UBE2N-UBE2V2 and the E3 ligases, HLTF, RNF8 and SHPRH. This error-free pathway, also known as template switching, employs recombination mechanisms to synthesize across the lesion, using as a template the undamaged, newly synthesized strand of the sister chromatid. Monoubiquitination at Lys-164 also takes place in undamaged proliferating cells, and is mediated by the DCX(DTL) complex, leading to enhance PCNA-dependent translesion DNA synthesis. Sumoylated during S phase. Ref.38Acetylated in response to UV irradiation. Acetylation disrupts interaction with NUDT15 and promotes degradation.Phosphorylated. Phosphorylation at Tyr-211 by EGFR stabilizes chromatin-associated PCNA. Ref.23
Miscellaneous: Antibodies against PCNA are present in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Sequence similarities: Belongs to the PCNA family.
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