Minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 (MCM3)

Minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 (MCM3) is a highly conserved protein that is a core constituent of the heterohexameric MCM2–7 helicase complex, which is crucial for the initiation and regulation of eukaryotic DNA replication. MCM3 is essential for licensing DNA to replicate once per cell cycle, acting within the pre-replication complex to help form replication forks and recruit other replication-related proteins[1][2][5]. Its function is tightly regulated by post-translational modifications (phosphorylation and acetylation), interacting with proteins such as MCM5/CDC46 and MCM3AP, and integrating signals from cell cycle kinases (e.g., CDK1, Chk1)[1]. MCM3 also plays a role in the DNA damage response and interacts with repair proteins like RAD51[1]. Elevated MCM3 expression is found in multiple tumor types, including hepatocellular carcinoma, where it serves as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and is linked to increased tumor proliferation and poor survival outcomes[3][5]. There are currently no approved drugs that directly target MCM3, and its inhibition poses challenges due to its fundamental role in cell proliferation and genome stability.

Other names

DNA replication licensing factor MCM3DNA polymerase alpha holoenzyme-associated protein P1P1-MCM3RLF subunit betap102HCC5P1.hRLFBreplication licensing factor beta subunitcervical cancer proto-oncogene 5hRlf beta subunitminichromosome maintenance deficient 3