InterPro domain: IPR008591

GINS is a key component of eukaryotic replicative forks. It is part of the CMG (Cdc45-MCM-GINS) complex, the eukaryotic replicative helicase that unwinds double-stranded DNA at replication forks [ 1 ]. Beside its role as a key component of the CMG complex, GINS mediates a interactions with many replication factors [ 2 , 3 ].

GINS is composed of four subunits: Sld5, Psf1, Psf2, and Psf3 [ 4 ]. The four subunits are structurally related and are likely to derive from a single protein. They share a common fold made up of an alpha-helical A domain and a beta rich B domain. Sld5 and Psf1 possess the A domain at the N terminus and the B domain at the C terminus, whereas these two domains are swapped in Psf2 and Psf3 [ 4 ]. All subunits are essential for DNA replication.

This family of proteins represents the Sld5 subunit.

1. Structure and evolutionary origins of the CMG complex. Chromosoma 122, 47-53
2. The GINS complex: structure and function. Subcell. Biochem. 62, 135-56
3. Structure and function of the GINS complex, a key component of the eukaryotic replisome. Biochem. J. 425, 489-500
4. New insights into the GINS complex explain the controversy between existing structural models. Sci Rep 7, 40188