S-phase-induced RNAs licensing DNA replication control ORC1 engagement at early DNA origin sites [ChIP-seq]

Yet the mechanism governing the “initiation” process in eukaryotic cells remains elusive. Here, we present data demonstrating a novel feature of RNAs transcribed in the proximity of actively replicating gene loci.

We show that S-phAse-RNAs aNChoring ORC1 (ANCORs) to the histone variant H2A.Z are licensors of the DNA replication process. The concomitant ANCOR-H2A.Z interaction is essential for the cell to initiate duplication of their genetic heritage. Widespread and locus-specific perturbations of these transcripts correlate with anomalous replication patterns and loss of the replicative marker at the origin site.