title: Condensin: Architect of mitotic chromosomes.
abstract: Condensin is a highly conserved pentameric complex consisting of two structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) ATPase subunits and three auxiliary components. While initially regarded as a key driver of mitotic chromosome condensation, condensin is increasingly viewed as having a more subtle influence on chromosome architecture. The two condensin complexes are required to direct the correct folding and organization of chromosomes prior to anaphase and for keeping the chromosomes compact as they separate to the poles. This ancient complex is essential in mitosis and meiosis and has additional roles in gene regulation and DNA repair. The wide variety of biochemical and genetic tools available are gradually unravelling the numerous roles condensin plays during the cell cycle and shedding light on its mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia. damien.hudson@mcri.edu.au
authors.forename: Damien F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000502:physiology*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D001665:Binding Sites; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000502:physiology*; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000502:physiology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C108312:condensin complexes; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases