DNA replication in all eukaryotes starts with the process of loading the 
replicative helicase MCM2-7 onto chromatin during late mitosis of the cell 
cycle. MCM2-7 is a key component of the prereplicative complex (pre-RC), which 
is loaded onto chromatin by the concerted action of origin recognition complex, 
Cdc6, and Cdt1. Here, we demonstrate that And-1 is assembled onto chromatin in 
late mitosis and early G(1) phase before the assembly of pre-RC in human cells. 
And-1 forms complexes with MCM2-7 to facilitate the assembly of MCM2-7 onto 
chromatin at replication origins in late mitosis and G(1) phase. We also present 
data to show that depletion of And-1 significantly reduces the interaction 
between Cdt1 and MCM7 in G(1) phase cells. Thus, human And-1 facilitates loading 
of the MCM2-7 helicase onto chromatin during the assembly of pre-RC.