Cohesin release is required for sister chromatid resolution, but not for condensin-mediated compaction, at the onset of mitosis

Losada, A., Hirano, M., Hirano, T. (December 2002) Cohesin release is required for sister chromatid resolution, but not for condensin-mediated compaction, at the onset of mitosis. Genes & Development, 16 (23). pp. 3004-3016. ISSN 0890-9369

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Abstract

The establishment of metaphase chromosomes is an essential prerequisite of sister chromatid separation in anaphase. It involves the coordinated action of cohesin and condensin, protein complexes that mediate cohesion and condensation, respectively. In metazoans, most cohesin dissociates from chromatin at prophase, coincident with association of condensin. Whether loosening of cohesion at the onset of mitosis facilitates the compaction process, resolution of the sister chromatids, or both, remains unknown. We have found that the prophase release of cohesin is completely blocked when two mitotic kinases, aurora B and polo-like kinase (Plx1), are simultaneously depleted from Xenopus egg extracts. Condensin loading onto chromatin is not affected under this condition, and rod-shaped chromosomes are produced that show an apparently normal level of compaction. However, the resolution of sister chromatids within these chromosomes is severely compromised. This is not because of inhibition of topoisomerase II activity that is also required for the resolution process. We propose that aurora B and Plx1 cooperate to destabilize the sister chromatid linkage through distinct mechanisms that may involve phosphorylation of histone H3 and cohesin, respectively. More importantly, our results strongly suggest that cohesin release at the onset of mitosis is essential for sister chromatid resolution but not for condensin-mediated compaction.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > chromatid
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organelles, types and functions > mitosis
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organelles, types and functions
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Hirano lab
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: December 2002
Date Deposited: 08 Jan 2014 15:56
Last Modified: 08 Jan 2014 15:56
PMCID: PMC187494
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/28737

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