MCM2 [MD32R]

Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2), also known as DNA replication licensing factor MCM2, is a member of the MCM family that regulates mammalian DNA replication. This family is composed of six related subunits, called the hexameric MCM2-7 complex, that are conserved in all eukaryotes. It functions as a replicative helicase, the molecular motor that both unwinds duplex DNA and powers fork progression during DNA replication. MCM2 acts as a factor to license DNA for one and only one round of replication per cell cycle. In the cell cycle, levels of the MCM family gradually increase in a variable manner from G0 into the G1/S phase. In the G0 stage, the amounts of MCM2 and MCM5 proteins are much lower than that of MCM7 and MCM3 proteins, so some of them participate in cell cycle regulation. MCM2 is localized in the nucleus throughout interphase. It is required for entry into the S phase and cell division. Anti-MCM2 labels proliferating cells in normal and tumor tissue. MCM2 has been used as a proliferation marker superior to Ki-67 for identification of premalignant lesions in colon, lung and other epithelial tissues. In addition, the MCM2 antibody is helpful in the distinction of malignant mesothelioma (higher labeling index) from reactive mesothelial proliferation. Cell Marque has.