Minichromosome Maintenance Deficient 9 (MCM9)

Minichromosome maintenance proteins, such as MCM9, are required for eukaryotic DNA replication initiation and the early stage of elongation. The deduced 391-amino acid protein shares between 24% and 31% sequence identity with other known MCM proteins, and shows the greatest identity with MCM8. It shares 91% and 90% sequence identity with the mouse and rat orthologs, respectively.

MCM9 contains the MCM2/3/5 family domain of DNA-dependent ATPase motifs. Using Blastn analysis of MCM9, Yoshida (2005) identified in silico mRNA expression of MCM9-associated ESTS in retina, stomach, testis, breast, lymphocyte, and uterus. The deduced 1,141-amino acid protein contains zinc finger-like domains, Walker A and B motifs, and a complete MCM2-7 family domain.