DNA-loop extruding condensin complexes can traverse one another

Eugene Kim, Jacob Kerssemakers, Indra A. Shaltiel, Christian H. Haering and Cees Dekker ()
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Eugene Kim: Delft University of Technology
Jacob Kerssemakers: Delft University of Technology
Indra A. Shaltiel: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
Christian H. Haering: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
Cees Dekker: Delft University of Technology

Nature, 2020, vol. 579, issue 7799, 438-442

Abstract: Abstract Condensin, a key component of the structure maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein complexes, has recently been shown to be a motor that extrudes loops of DNA1. It remains unclear, however, how condensin complexes work together to collectively package DNA into chromosomes. Here we use time-lapse single-molecule visualization to study mutual interactions between two DNA-loop-extruding yeast condensins. We find that these motor proteins, which, individually, extrude DNA in one direction only are able to dynamically change each other’s DNA loop sizes, even when far apart. When they are in close proximity, condensin complexes are able to traverse each other and form a loop structure, which we term a Z-loop—three double-stranded DNA helices aligned in parallel with one condensin at each edge. Z-loops can fill gaps left by single loops and can form symmetric dimer motors that pull in DNA from both sides. These findings indicate that condensin may achieve chromosomal compaction using a variety of looping structures.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2067-5

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