A genetic screen to discover pathways affecting cohesin function in Schizosaccharomyces pombe identifies chromatin effectors.
Cohesion, the force that holds sister chromatids together from the time of DNA replication until separation at the metaphase to anaphase transition, is mediated by the cohesin complex. This complex is also involved in DNA damage repair, chromosomes condensation, and gene regulation. To learn more about the cellular functions of cohesin, we conducted a genetic screen in Schizosaccharomyces pombe with two different cohesin mutants (eso1-G799D and mis4-242). We found synthetic negative interactions with deletions of genes involved in DNA replication and heterochromatin formation. We also found a few gene deletions that rescued the growth of eso1-G799D at the nonpermissive temperature, and these genes partially rescue the lagging chromosome phenotype. These genes are all chromatin effectors. Overall, our screen revealed an intimate association between cohesin and chromatin.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA.
Zhiming
Z
Chen
Scott
S
McCrosky
Weichao
W
Guo
Hua
H
Li
Jennifer L
JL
Gerton
D000483:Alleles; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002842:Chromatids / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004261:DNA Replication; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097722:Cohesins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006570:Heterochromatin; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D000097722:Cohesins; C407842:Eso1 protein, S pombe; C115842:MIS4 protein, S pombe