In vivo dissection of the chromosome condensation machinery: reversibility of condensation distinguishes contributions of condensin and cohesin

J Cell Biol. 2002 Mar 4;156(5):805-15. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200109056. Epub 2002 Feb 25.

Abstract

The machinery mediating chromosome condensation is poorly understood. To begin to dissect the in vivo function(s) of individual components, we monitored mitotic chromosome structure in mutants of condensin, cohesin, histone H3, and topoisomerase II (topo II). In budding yeast, both condensation establishment and maintenance require all of the condensin subunits, but not topo II activity or phospho-histone H3. Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein 2, as well as each of the three non-SMC proteins (Ycg1p, Ycs4p, and Brn1p), was required for chromatin binding of the condensin complex in vivo. Using reversible condensin alleles, we show that chromosome condensation does not involve an irreversible modification of condensin or chromosomes. Finally, we provide the first evidence of a mechanistic link between condensin and cohesin function. A model discussing the functional interplay between cohesin and condensin is presented.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Chromosome Segregation / physiology*
  • Cohesins
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / genetics
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mitosis / genetics
  • Mitosis / physiology*
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Histones
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SMC2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • condensin complexes
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II