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Condensins

Condensins

Condensins are large protein complexes that use ATP to fuel the assembly of chromosomes during mitosis. They transform the tangled, shapeless mass of post-interphase DNA into individualized chromosomes by compacting, organizing, and segregating chromosomal DNA.
The plant and animal cells contain two types of condensin complexes—condensin I and condensin II. Both complexes have five subunits: two SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) subunits, a kleisin subunit, and two HEAT-repeat...

Condensins

Condensins

Condensins are large protein complexes that use ATP to fuel the assembly of chromosomes during mitosis. They transform the tangled, shapeless mass of post-interphase DNA into individualized chromosomes by compacting, organizing, and segregating chromosomal DNA.
The plant and animal cells contain two types of condensin complexes—condensin I and condensin II. Both complexes have five subunits: two SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) subunits, a kleisin subunit, and two HEAT-repeat...

Dosage Compensation

Dosage Compensation

In animals, gender is determined by the number and type of sex chromosome. For example, human females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y chromosome, whereas C.elegans with one X chromosome is a male, and the one with two X chromosomes is a hermaphrodite.
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will have...

Gene Conversion

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

Gene Conversion

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

Cohesins

Cohesins

Cohesin protein complexes are a molecular glue that holds two sister chromatids together. They play an important role both in mitosis and meiosis. In mitosis, all cohesin complexes present on the chromosomes are removed before the start of the anaphase stage.
Cohesin complexes in Meiotic Division
Meiosis involves two distinct rounds of chromosomal segregation and cell divisions— Meiosis I followed by Meiosis II – producing four daughter cells. Meiosis I includes the separation of homologous...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres

Published on: April 12, 2021

Condensin function in dosage compensation.

Györgyi Csankovszki¹

¹Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA. gyorgyi@umich.edu

|June 2, 2009

Summary

The dosage compensation complex (DCC) in C. elegans worms uses a condensin complex to reduce X-linked gene expression in hermaphrodites, equalizing gene dosage between sexes. This process may involve organizing chromatin into repressive nuclear compartments.

Area of Science:

Genetics
Molecular Biology
Chromatin Biology

Background:

Dosage compensation equalizes X-linked gene expression between sexes.
In C. elegans, the dosage compensation complex (DCC) downregulates X-chromosome gene expression in hermaphrodites.
The DCC is a homolog of the condensin complex, involved in chromosome segregation and compaction.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the mechanistic link between condensin's diverse functions.
To understand how the DCC achieves dosage compensation in C. elegans.
To investigate the role of condensin in interphase chromatin organization.

Main Methods:

The abstract does not specify methods, but implies analysis of DCC function and chromatin organization.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres

Published on: April 12, 2021

Capturing Chromosome Conformation Across Length Scales

Capturing Chromosome Conformation Across Length Scales

Published on: January 20, 2023

Getting an A with the 3Cs: Chromosome Conformation Capture for Undergraduates

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Main Results:

The DCC, composed of condensin I(DC), binds X chromosomes in hermaphrodites.
This binding leads to a two-fold downregulation of X-linked gene expression.
A condensin-mediated function may organize interphase chromatin fibers.

Conclusions:

Condensin complexes perform diverse roles, including chromosome segregation and gene regulation.
Understanding worm dosage compensation offers insights into mitotic and interphase condensin functions.
Condensin may guide chromatin organization to form repressive nuclear compartments during dosage compensation.