title: The relative ratio of condensin I to II determines chromosome shapes.
abstract: To understand how chromosome shapes are determined by actions of condensins and cohesin, we devised a series of protocols in which their levels are precisely changed in Xenopus egg extracts. When the relative ratio of condensin I to II is forced to be smaller, embryonic chromosomes become shorter and thicker, being reminiscent of somatic chromosomes. Further depletion of condensin II unveils its contribution to axial shortening of chromosomes. Cohesin helps juxtapose sister chromatid arms by collaborating with condensin I and counteracting condensin II. Thus, chromosome shaping is achieved by an exquisite balance among condensin I and II and cohesin.
authors.affiliation: Chromosome Dynamics Laboratory, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shintomi
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D022004:Chromosome Structures; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097722:Cohesins
chemical_list: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D000097722:Cohesins; C108312:condensin complexes