Prokaryotic and eukaryotic replicons

The replicon model, proposed by Jacob and Brenner (1963) to explain the regulation of prokaryotic DNA replication, has proved remarkably robust. Despite the manyvariations in initiation mechanism discovered since 1963, the replicon model may be applicable, with minor modifications, to regulation of DNA replication in all organisms. For several years, the Replicon Club of Paris, a group of French scientists interested in regulation of replication, has been meeting to discuss new results. This year, with support from the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Replicon Club sponsored an international Jacques Monod Conference on Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Replicons. The meeting was organized by G. Buttin (Institut Pasteur, Paris) with assistance from A. Falaschi (International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy) and M. Kohiyama (Institut Jacques Monod, Paris) and was held at the CNRS’s Centre Paul Langevin in the Alpine village of Aussois, France, from June 18-22, 1995. There, invigorated by beautiful surroundings and excellent cuisine, scientists from around the world provided evidence both for the vitality of the replicon model and for substantial advances in our understanding of the regulation of replication.