title: Expression of cohesin and condensin genes during zebrafish development supports a non-proliferative role for cohesin.
abstract: Cohesin and condensin are similar, but distinct multi-subunit protein complexes that have well-described roles in sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome condensation, respectively. Recently it has emerged that cohesin, and proteins that regulate cohesin function have additional developmental roles. To further understand the role of cohesin in development, we analyzed the expression of genes encoding cohesin and condensin subunits in developing zebrafish embryos and juvenile brain. We found that cohesin subunits are expressed in a pattern that is similar (but not quite identical) to the expression of condensin subunits. Cohesin genes smc1a, rad21, pds5b and smc3 were expressed in the forebrain ventricular zone, the tectum, the mid-hindbrain boundary, the fourth ventricle, branchial arches, the otic vesicle, the eye and faintly in the developing pectoral fins. Condensin genes smc2 and smc4 were expressed in the forebrain ventricular zone, the tectum, the mid-hindbrain boundary, the fourth ventricle, branchial arches, eye and pectoral fins. Condensin genes were additionally expressed in the hindbrain proliferative zone, an area in which cohesin genes were not detected. A comparison with pcna expression and BrdU incorporation revealed that the expression of cohesins and condensins closely overlap with zones of proliferation. Interestingly, cohesin genes were expressed in non-proliferating cells flanking rhombomere boundaries in the developing brain. In mature brain and eye, cohesin was expressed in both proliferating cells and in broad zones of post-mitotic cells. The distribution of cohesin and condensin mRNAs supports existing evidence for a non-cell cycle role for cohesin in the developing brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mönnich
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eccles
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horsfield
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000235:genetics*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000097722:Cohesins
chemical_list: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D000097722:Cohesins; C108312:condensin complexes