The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) protein family that are essential for the initiation of eukaryotic genome replication. Binding of this protein to chromatin has been shown to be a pre-requisite for recruiting the MCM2-7 helicase to DNA replication origins. This protein also binds, and is a positive regulator of, the chromatin licensing and DNA replication factor 1, CDT1. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2010].