Centromere DNA decatenation depends on cohesin removal and is required for mammalian cell division.
Sister chromatid cohesion is mediated by DNA catenation and proteinaceous cohesin complexes. The recent visualization of PICH (Plk1-interacting checkpoint helicase)-coated DNA threads in anaphase cells raises new questions as to the role of DNA catenation and its regulation in time and space. In the present study we show that persistent DNA catenation induced by inhibition of Topoisomerase-IIalpha can contribute to sister chromatid cohesion in the absence of cohesin complexes and that resolution of catenation is essential for abscission. Furthermore, we use an in vitro chromatid separation assay to investigate the temporal and functional relationship between cohesin removal and Topoisomerase-IIalpha-mediated decatenation. Our data suggest that centromere decatenation can occur only after separase activation and cohesin removal, providing a plausible explanation for the persistence of centromere threads after anaphase onset.
Department of Cell Biology, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany. lily.wang@unibas.ch
Lily Hui-Ching
LH
Wang
Bernd
B
Mayer
Olaf
O
Stemmann
Erich A
EA
Nigg
D000705:Anaphase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002842:Chromatids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043864:DNA, Catenated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000097722:Cohesins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004247:DNA; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D043864:DNA, Catenated; D000097722:Cohesins; C516980:ERCC6L protein, human