Regulation of chromosome dynamics by Hsk1/Cdc7 kinase.

Hsk1 (homologue of Cdc7 kinase 1) of the fission yeast is a member of the conserved Cdc7 (cell division cycle 7) kinase family, and promotes initiation of chromosome replication by phosphorylating Mcm (minichromosome maintenance) subunits, essential components for the replicative helicase. Recent studies, however, indicate more diverse roles for Hsk1/Cdc7 in regulation of various chromosome dynamics, including initiation of meiotic recombination, meiotic chromosome segregation, DNA repair, replication checkpoints, centromeric heterochromatin formation and so forth. Hsk1/Cdc7, with its unique target specificity, can now be regarded as an important modulator of various chromosome transactions.