A quantitative map of human Condensins provides new insights into mitotic chromosome architecture.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Walther N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6028534 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Two different condensin complexes make distinct contributions to metaphase chromosome architecture in vertebrate cells. We show here that the spatial and temporal distributions of condensins I and II are differentially regulated during the cell cycle in HeLa cells. Condensin II is predominantly nuclear during interphase and contributes to early stages of chromosome assembly in prophase. In contrast, condensin I is sequestered in the cytoplasm from interphase through prophase and gains access to chromosomes only after the nuclear envelope breaks down in prometaphase. The two complexes alternate along the axis of metaphase chromatids, but they are arranged into a unique geometry at the centromere/kinetochore region, with condensin II enriched near the inner kinetochore plate. This region-specific distribution of condensins I and II is severely disrupted upon depletion of Aurora B, although their association with the chromosome arm is not. Depletion of condensin subunits causes defects in kinetochore structure and function, leading to aberrant chromosome alignment and segregation. Our results suggest that the two condensin complexes act sequentially to initiate the assembly of mitotic chromosomes and that their specialized distribution at the centromere/kinetochore region may play a crucial role in placing sister kinetochores into the back-to-back orientation.
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Project description:The condensin complex has been implicated in the higher-order organization of mitotic chromosomes in a host of model eukaryotes from yeasts to flies and vertebrates. Although chromosomes paradoxically appear to condense in condensin mutants, chromatids are not properly resolved, resulting in chromosome segregation defects during anaphase. We have examined the role of different condensin complex components in interphase chromatin function by examining the effects of various condensin mutations on position-effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster. Surprisingly, most mutations affecting condensin proteins were often found to result in strong enhancement of variegation in contrast to what might be expected for proteins believed to compact the genome. This suggests either that the role of condensin proteins in interphase differs from their expected role in mitosis or that the way we envision condensin's activity needs to be modified to accommodate alternative possibilities.
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Project description:The faithful transmission of a cell's identity and functionality to its daughters during mitosis requires the proper assembly of mitotic chromosomes from interphase chromatin in a process that involves significant changes in the genome-bound material, including the RNA. However, our understanding of the RNA that is associated with the mitotic chromosome is presently limited. Here, we present complete and quantitative characterizations of the full-length mitotic chromosome-associated RNAs (mCARs) for 3 human cell lines, a monkey cell line, and a mouse cell line derived from high-depth RNA sequencing (3 replicates, 47 M mapped read pairs for each replicate). Overall, we identify, on average, more than 20,400 mCAR species per cell-type (including isoforms), more than 5,200 of which are enriched on the chromosome. Notably, overall, more than 2,700 of these mCARs were previously unknown, which thus also expands the annotated genome of these species. We anticipate that these datasets will provide an essential resource for future studies to better understand the functioning of mCARs on the mitotic chromosome and in the cell.
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Project description:The requirement for condensin in chromosome formation in somatic cells remains unclear, as imperfectly condensed chromosomes do form in cells depleted of condensin by conventional methodologies. In order to dissect the roles of condensin at different stages of vertebrate mitosis, we have established a versatile cellular system that combines auxin-mediated rapid degradation with chemical genetics to obtain near-synchronous mitotic entry of chicken DT40 cells in the presence and absence of condensin. We analyzed the outcome by live- and fixed-cell microscopy methods, including serial block face scanning electron microscopy with digital reconstruction. Following rapid depletion of condensin, chromosomal defects were much more obvious than those seen after a slow depletion of condensin. The total mitotic chromatin volume was similar to that in control cells, but a single mass of mitotic chromosomes was clustered at one side of a bent mitotic spindle. Cultures arrest at prometaphase, eventually exiting mitosis without segregating chromosomes. Experiments where the auxin concentration was titrated showed that different condensin levels are required for anaphase chromosome segregation and formation of a normal chromosome architecture.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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