SMC proteins and chromosome structure
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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
Published on: March 3, 2016
1NIH, NICHD, Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, Unit of Chromosome Structure and Function, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. strunnik@box-s.nih.gov
Abstract:
The structure of chromosomes is largely determined by chromosome-associated proteins. Members of the SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) family play an important role in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosome structure and dynamics. SMC proteins are involved in chromosome condensation, sister-chromatid cohesion, sex-chromosome dosage compensation, genetic recombination and DNA repair. There have been major advances recently in understanding the function of SMC proteins--including the identification of biochemical activities of SMC-containing protein complexes and the realization that individual SMC proteins might link seemingly unrelated aspects of chromosomal metabolism.
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