Background：The protein encoded by this gene is one of the highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance proteins （MCM） that are essential for the initiation of eukaryotic genome replication. The hexametric protein complex formed by the MCM proteins is a key component of the pre-replication complex （pre_RC） and may be involved in the formation of replication forks and in the recruitment of other DNA replication related proteins. The MCM complex consisting of this protein and MCM2, 4 and 6 proteins possesses DNA helicase activity, and may act as a DNA unwinding enzyme. Cyclin D1-dependent kinase, CDK4, is found to associate with this protein, and may regulate the binding of this protein with the tumorsuppressor protein RB1/RB. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.
