S-phase patterns of cyclin (PCNA) antigen staining resemble topographical patterns of DNA synthesis. A role for cyclin in DNA replication?

The sequence of cyclin (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), antigen staining throughout the cell cycle of African green monkey kidney cells (BS-C-1) has been determined by indirect immunofluorescence using PCNA autoantibodies specific for this protein. Patterns of cyclin staining observed between the beginning of S-phase and maximum DNA synthesis are similar to those reported in human AMA cells [(1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 3262-3266], while those detected thereafter are significantly different; the most striking feature being the continuous staining of the nucleoli up to or very near the S/G2 border of the cell cycle. Using [3H]thymidine autoradiography and indirect immunofluorescence of the same cells we show a remarkable correlation between cyclin antigen distribution and topographical patterns of DNA synthesis. In addition, we present evidence showing that DNase I treatment of Triton-extracted monolayers abolishes cyclin antigen staining but does not result in a substantial release of this protein. Taken together the above observations argue for a role of cyclin in some aspect of DNA replication.