P33993

MCM7 is a member of the mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) protein family, MCM7 plays a crucial role in the regulation of DNA replication, ensuring that DNA is replicated only once per cell cycle. This is vital for maintaining genomic stability and preventing over-replication, which can lead to genomic instability and cancer. MCM7, along with other MCM proteins, contains an ATP-binding motif that facilitates the opening of double-stranded DNA in an ATP-dependent manner, a key step in the initiation of DNA replication. MCM7 expression peaks during the transition from the G1 to S phase of the cell cycle and is influenced by E2F transcription factors and various protein kinases. MCM7 interacts with other MCM proteins to form a complex that exhibits DNA helicase activity, essential for unwinding DNA strands during replication.