title: The maintenance of chromosome structure: positioning and functioning of SMC complexes.
abstract: Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes, which in eukaryotic cells include cohesin, condensin and the Smc5/6 complex, are central regulators of chromosome dynamics and control sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome condensation, DNA replication, DNA repair and transcription. Even though the molecular mechanisms that lead to this large range of functions are still unclear, it has been established that the complexes execute their functions through their association with chromosomal DNA. A large set of data also indicates that SMC complexes work as intermolecular and intramolecular linkers of DNA. When combining these insights with results from ongoing analyses of their chromosomal binding, and how this interaction influences the structure and dynamics of chromosomes, a picture of how SMC complexes carry out their many functions starts to emerge.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, von Eulers väg 3, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, von Eulers väg 3, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.affiliation: University of Tokyo, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Laboratory of Genome Structure and Function Research Center for Epigenetic Disease, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirahige
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, von Eulers väg 3, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sjögren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002842:Chromatids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; C432931:SMC5 protein, human; C432932:SMC6 protein, human