Abstract
Protein complexes consisting of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) and kleisin subunits are crucial for the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell proliferation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Two of the best-studied SMC complexes are cohesin and condensin. Cohesin is required to hold sister chromatids together, which allows their bio-orientation on the mitotic spindle. Cleavage of cohesin's kleisin subunit by the separase protease then triggers the movement of sister chromatids into opposite halves of the cell during anaphase. Condensin is required to organize mitotic chromosomes into coherent structures that prevent them from getting tangled up during segregation. Here we describe the discovery of SMC complexes and discuss recent advances in determining how members of this ancient protein family may function at a mechanistic level.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / chemistry
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
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Animals
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Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
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Cell Proliferation
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / chemistry*
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
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Chromosomes / chemistry
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Chromosomes / metabolism
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Cohesins
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DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Fungal Proteins / chemistry
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Fungal Proteins / genetics
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Fungal Proteins / metabolism
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Mitosis
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Models, Biological
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Models, Molecular
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Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
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Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
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Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
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Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Fungal Proteins
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Multiprotein Complexes
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Nuclear Proteins
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condensin complexes
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Adenosine Triphosphatases