DNA replication licensing factor MCM7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MCM7 gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene is one of the highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance proteins (MCM) that are essential for the initiation of eukaryotic genome replication. The hexameric protein complex formed by the MCM proteins is a key component of the pre-replication complex (pre-RC) and may be involved in the formation of replication forks and in the recruitment of other DNA replication related proteins. The MCM complex consisting of this protein and MCM2, 4 and 6 proteins possesses DNA helicase activity, and may act as a DNA unwinding enzyme. Cyclin D1-dependent kinase, CDK4, is found to associate with this protein, and may regulate the binding of this protein with the tumor suppressor protein RB1/RB. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. Interactions MCM7 has been shown to interact with: CDC45-related protein CDC6, Cell division cycle 7-related protein kinase, DBF4, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM5, MCM6, MNAT1, ORC1L, ORC2L, ORC3L, ORC5L, Replication protein A1, Retinoblastoma protein, and UBE3A. See also Mini Chromosome Maintenance References Further reading