DNA-loop extruding condensin complexes can traverse one another

Journal article (2020)

Authors

E. Kim Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, BN/Cees Dekker Lab - AS
J.W.J. Kerssemakers Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, BN/Technici en Analisten
Indra A. Shaltiel European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg
Christian H. Haering European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg
C. Dekker BN/Cees Dekker Lab - AS , Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft
Research Group
BN/Cees Dekker Lab (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 E. Kim, J.W.J. Kerssemakers, Indra A. Shaltiel, Christian H. Haering, C. Dekker
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2067-5
More Info
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

BN/Bionanoscience

Research Group

BN/Cees Dekker Lab

Abstract

Condensin, a key component of the structure maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein complexes, has recently been shown to be a motor that extrudes loops of DNA1. It remains unclear, however, how condensin complexes work together to collectively package DNA into chromosomes. Here we use time-lapse single-molecule visualization to study mutual interactions between two DNA-loop-extruding yeast condensins. We find that these motor proteins, which, individually, extrude DNA in one direction only are able to dynamically change each other’s DNA loop sizes, even when far apart. When they are in close proximity, condensin complexes are able to traverse each other and form a loop structure, which we term a Z-loop—three double-stranded DNA helices aligned in parallel with one condensin at each edge. Z-loops can fill gaps left by single loops and can form symmetric dimer motors that pull in DNA from both sides. These findings indicate that condensin may achieve chromosomal compaction using a variety of looping structures.