Direct non transcriptional role of the CCAAT-factor NF-Y in DNA replication

The heterotrimeric transcription factor NF-Y plays a pioneer role in the transcriptional control of promoters containing the CCAAT-box, among which genes involved in cell cycle regulation. The expression levels of the sequence specific subunit NF-YA increase at the onset of S phase, and NF-YA loss in primary and tumor mammalian cells triggers defects in S-phase progression. Here, we show that NF-Y has a critical function in DNA replication progression, independent from its transcriptional activity. NF-YA colocalizes with early DNA replication factories, its depletion affects the loading of replisome proteins to DNA and delays the passage from early to middle-late S phase. Molecular combing experiments are consistent with a role for NF-Y in the control of fork progression. Using a Xenopus cell-free system, we unambiguously demonstrate a direct non-transcriptional role of NF-Y in the overall efficiency of DNA replication. Spontaneous DNA damage occurs in NF-YA-deficient cells, while NF-YA overexpression reduces the sensitivity to replication stress, suggesting a role for NF-Y in replication stress response and genome maintenance. Our findings broaden the activity of NF-Y on a DNA metabolism other than transcription, supporting the existence of specific transcription factors required for proper and efficient DNA replication.