Requirement of heterochromatin for cohesion at centromeres.
Centromeres are heterochromatic in many organisms, but the mitotic function of this silent chromatin remains unknown. During cell division, newly replicated sister chromatids must cohere until anaphase when Scc1/Rad21-mediated cohesion is destroyed. In metazoans, chromosome arm cohesins dissociate during prophase, leaving centromeres as the only linkage before anaphase. It is not known what distinguishes centromere cohesion from arm cohesion. Fission yeast Swi6 (a Heterochromatin protein 1 counterpart) is a component of silent heterochromatin. Here we show that this heterochromatin is specifically required for cohesion between sister centromeres. Swi6 is required for association of Rad21-cohesin with centromeres but not along chromosome arms and, thus, acts to distinguish centromere from arm cohesion. Therefore, one function of centromeric heterochromatin is to attract cohesin, thereby ensuring sister centromere cohesion and proper chromosome segregation.
Bernard
P
P
MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
Maure
J F
JF
Partridge
J F
JF
Genier
S
S
Javerzat
J P
JP
Allshire
R C
RC
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002503:Centromere / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002842:Chromatids / Q000378:metabolism; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008677:Metaphase; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000097722:Cohesins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097722:Cohesins; C490529:MCD1 protein, S cerevisiae; C092957:Rad21 protein, S pombe; C075111:SWI6 protein, S cerevisiae; C540907:psm1 protein, S pombe; C400810:ura4 protein, S pombe