DNA Replication Timing: Where, When, How and Why?

Dear Colleagues,

DNA replication is the molecular basis of inheritance. Eukaryotic genomes are replicated from numerous DNA replication origins, which are activated at different times along S phase. The study of DNA replication timing has proven particularly challenging, with many fundamental questions remaining largely unresolved. For instance, where are DNA replication origins located across the genomes of higher eukaryotes? What are the mechanisms that lead to specific genomic loci functioning as replication origins? And even, what is the chromosomal nature of replication initiation sites—are they single loci, clusters of redundant initiating sites, or broader chromosomal domains? Similarly, we still have poor understanding of the mechanisms that determine the time of activation of particular replication origins.  While the biochemistry of replication initiation has been studied in great detail (not withstanding several hotly debated questions), it remains largely unknown how regulation of DNA replication timing is carried out. Another fundamental question that remains incompletely resolved is: why do cells have a DNA replication timing program? Is it important that certain genomic regions replicate early while others replicate late? For instance, does replication timing influence genome regulation and cellular and organismal physiology? Exciting new approaches are being utilized to explore these questions and have established or revealed new links between replication timing and gene regulation, chromatin structure, chromosome conformation, mutational processes, inheritance, diseases, and more. These discoveries are leading to a revived and expanded interest in DNA replication timing and are sure to bring a new level of understanding of this important process in the forthcoming years. This Special Issue addresses DNA replication timing in various species from all of these different aspects: causes, consequences, properties, and mechanisms.

Dr. Amnon Koren
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.