Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells

Dzhokova, Stefka K.; Hristova, Rossitsa H.; Botev, Peter S.; Guecheva, Temenouga N.; Gospodinov, Anastas G.

doi:10.3390/ijms262412189

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Open AccessArticle

Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells

by

Stefka K. Dzhokova

,

Rossitsa H. Hristova

,

Peter S. Botev

,

Temenouga N. Guecheva

and

Anastas G. Gospodinov

^*

Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 12189; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412189

Submission received: 8 November 2025 / Revised: 15 December 2025 / Accepted: 16 December 2025 / Published: 18 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

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Abstract

The SNF2-related chromatin remodeler Srcap is the principal ATPase responsible for the deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z at promoters and regulatory chromatin regions. Although this activity is known to modulate transcription, its contribution to DNA replication remains unexplored. Here we show that Srcap is required for efficient replication fork progression and origin firing in mammalian cells. Using RNA interference in human PC3 cells, we found that Srcap depletion leads to a ~25% reduction in fork elongation rate, decreased replication fork density, accumulation of the replication-stress marker γH2AX, and reduced chromatin-bound H2A.Z. High-resolution expansion microscopy further revealed diminished intensity and increased spacing of replication foci, consistent with reduced origin activation. Transcriptomic analysis of published data identified broad downregulation of replication-associated genes. These data uncover a dual mechanism by which Srcap sustains replication efficiency—through both H2A.Z-dependent chromatin organization and transcriptional maintenance of the replication machinery. Our findings establish Srcap as an important coordinator of replication dynamics, with implications for genome stability.

Keywords: Srcap; chromatin remodeling; DNA replication; replication stress; origin licensing; transcriptional regulation; genome stability

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dzhokova, S.K.; Hristova, R.H.; Botev, P.S.; Guecheva, T.N.; Gospodinov, A.G. Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 12189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412189

AMA Style

Dzhokova SK, Hristova RH, Botev PS, Guecheva TN, Gospodinov AG. Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(24):12189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412189

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dzhokova, Stefka K., Rossitsa H. Hristova, Peter S. Botev, Temenouga N. Guecheva, and Anastas G. Gospodinov. 2025. "Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 24: 12189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412189

APA Style

Dzhokova, S. K., Hristova, R. H., Botev, P. S., Guecheva, T. N., & Gospodinov, A. G. (2025). Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(24), 12189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412189

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Srcap Chromatin Remodeler Is Required for Efficient Replication Dynamics in Mammalian Cells

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