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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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A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
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Cohesins02:20

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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.
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The process of chromosome duplication during cell division requires genome-wide disruption and re-assembly of chromatin. The chromatin structure must be accurately inherited, reassembled, and maintained in the daughter cells to ensure lineage propagation.
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Forces Acting on Chromosomes02:11

Forces Acting on Chromosomes

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During mitosis, chromosome movements occur through the interplay of multiple piconewton level forces. In prometaphase, these forces help in chromosome assembly or congression at the equatorial plane, eventually leading to their alignment at the metaphase plate. The forces acting on the chromosomes are space and time-dependent; therefore, they vary with the position of the chromosomes as the cell progresses through mitosis. 
Microtubules and motor proteins exert two types of forces on...
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Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

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Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
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Loop-extruding Smc5/6 organizes transcription-induced positive DNA supercoils.

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The Smc5/6 complex is a DNA loop-extruding motor.

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Cohesin-dependent chromosome loop extrusion is limited by transcription and stalled replication forks.

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The chromosomal association of the Smc5/6 complex depends on cohesion and predicts the level of sister chromatid entanglement.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Super-Resolution Microscopy of the Synaptonemal Complex Within the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline
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Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes Complexes.

Kristian Jeppsson1,2

  • 1Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. jeppsson@iqb.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|September 16, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes are vital molecular machines that organize DNA and safeguard the genome. These protein complexes use ATP to extrude DNA loops, a key mechanism for chromosome structure and function.

Keywords:
Chromosome loopsCohesinCondensinGenome organizationLoop extrusionSMC complexesSmc5/6Topological entrapmentWadjet

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes are essential, conserved molecular machines.
  • These ring-shaped complexes organize chromosomes in three-dimensional space.
  • SMC complexes are crucial for genome stability and cell division across all life forms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the canonical structure of SMC complexes.
  • To describe the composition and functions of major eukaryotic and prokaryotic SMC types.
  • To present the current model of in vitro DNA loop extrusion by SMC complexes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on SMC complex structure and function.
  • Description of the ATP-dependent DNA binding and extrusion mechanisms.
  • Discussion of the role of DNA loop extrusion in cellular chromosome looping.

Main Results:

  • SMC complexes utilize ATP hydrolysis to entrap or loop DNA molecules.
  • The canonical structure and diverse types of SMC complexes are detailed.
  • A model for in vitro DNA loop extrusion by SMC complexes is presented.

Conclusions:

  • SMC complexes are fundamental for chromosome organization and genome maintenance.
  • DNA loop extrusion is a primary mechanism by which SMC complexes function.
  • Understanding SMC complex mechanisms provides insight into chromosome structure and dynamics.