Silencing of p29 affects DNA damage responses with UV irradiation.

Human p29 is a newly identified nuclear protein whose function is largely undetermined. We found that p29 associated with chromatin, interacted with MCM3, and localized with proliferating cell nuclear antigen foci in the S phase. Silencing of p29 using small interfering RNA duplexes reduced DNA synthesis and increased the expression of p107, a member of the RB family, and of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, accompanied with a decreased expression of DNA polymerase alpha. Lethal events consisting of premature chromatin condensation with a reduced Chk1 phosphorylation were observed in p29-depleted cells in response to UV irradiation. Intriguingly, the phosphorylation of ataxia telangectasia-mutated kinases at S1981 was suppressed in p29-depleted HeLa cells with UV irradiation, but not in hydroxyurea- and ionizing radiation-treated cells. Taken together, these results reveal a novel function of p29 in the regulation of DNA replication checkpoint responses.