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Related Concept Videos

Condensins02:15

Condensins

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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...
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Heterochromatin02:38

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The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...
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Euchromatin01:01

Euchromatin

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The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...
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Cohesins02:20

Cohesins

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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
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Chromatin Packaging01:32

Chromatin Packaging

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Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base pairs of DNA. Each base pair is 0.34 nm long, meaning each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. This long DNA strand is packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10-20 microns in diameter with the help of specialized DNA-binding proteins called histones. Together they form a compact DNA-protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin is further compacted into higher-order structures. The highest level of compaction is achieved during...
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Related Experiment Video

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SMC complexes differentially compact mitotic chromosomes according to genomic context.

Stephanie Andrea Schalbetter1, Anton Goloborodko2, Geoffrey Fudenberg2

  • 1Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Science Park Road, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RQ, UK.

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|August 22, 2017
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Summary

Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes organize chromosomes. Cohesin compacts mitotic chromosome arms via cis-looping, while condensin targets specific regions like rDNA and pericentromeres in yeast.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes are crucial for organizing chromosome structure.
  • Cohesin and condensin are conserved SMC complexes with established roles in sister chromatid cohesion and mitotic chromosome compaction, respectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct roles of cohesin and condensin in organizing budding yeast chromosomes during mitosis.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which these SMC complexes achieve chromosome conformation.

Main Methods:

  • Hi-C technology to map chromosome interactions.
  • Polymer modeling to simulate chromatin organization.
  • Analysis of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mitosis.

Main Results:

  • Cohesin, independent of sister chromatid cohesion, compacts mitotic chromosome arms through cis-looping.
  • Condensin is largely dispensable for arm compaction but plays a targeted role in compacting rDNA proximal regions and resolving pericentromeric regions.
  • SMC complexes utilize chromatin looping as a conserved mechanism for chromosome organization.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct SMC-dependent looping activities are selectively employed for specific chromosome compaction tasks.
  • The study reveals novel, differentiated functions for cohesin and condensin in mitotic chromosome organization in budding yeast.
  • Chromatin looping is a fundamental mechanism for SMC-mediated chromosome organization.