scholarly journals Mitotic Chromosome Structure: Reproducibility of Folding and Symmetry between Sister Chromatids

2009 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1617-1628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri G. Strukov ◽  
A.S. Belmont
1986 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel J. J. Dietrich

It is well known that there is a strong influence of fixation, i.e., acetic methanol versus formaldehyde, on the chromosome morphology at stages of the first meiotic division. In this study the influence of both these types of fixation on the morphology of mitotic chromosomes was examined in human lymphocytes. After methanol – acetic acid (3:1) fixation, the chromosomes show the "classical" condensed shape in which it is not always possible to recognize the two sister chromatids. These chromosomes are accessible to the conventional G-, R-, and C-banding techniques. After formaldehyde fixation at a relatively high pH, the chromosomes are thinner and longer (two to six times) when compared with chromosomes following methanol – acetic acid fixation. They show a scaffold-like morphology, sometimes with a halo of thin material around it. In all cases the two sister chromatids could be recognized. This chromosome structure could be easily stained with silver, Giemsa, 4,6-diamino-2-phenyl-indole (DAPI), and fluorescein isocyanate isomere 1 (FITC). The results obtained following these stainings gave no indication to any specific chemical composition of a probable central scaffold. The scaffold-like structures were not accessible to G-, R-, or C-banding techniques. The only effect observed following these banding techniques was the disappearance of the halo of thin material around the central scaffold-like structure.Key words: chromosome structure, fixation influence, human lymphocytes.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Dauban ◽  
Rémi Montagne ◽  
Agnès Thierry ◽  
Luciana Lazar-Stefanita ◽  
Olivier Gadal ◽  
...  

AbstractUnderstanding how chromatin organizes spatially into chromatid and how sister chromatids are maintained together during mitosis is of fundamental importance in chromosome biology. Cohesin, a member of the Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complex family, holds sister chromatids together 1–3 and promotes long-range intra-chromatid DNA looping 4,5. These cohesin-mediated DNA loops are important for both higher-order mitotic chromatin compaction6,7 and, in some organisms, compartmentalization of chromosomes during interphase into topologically associating domains (TADs) 8,9. Our understanding of the mechanism(s) by which cohesin generates large DNA loops remains incomplete. It involves a combination of molecular partners and active expansion/extrusion of DNA loops. Here we dissect the roles on loop formation of three partners of the cohesin complex: Pds5 10, Wpl1 11 and Eco1 acetylase 12, during yeast mitosis. We identify a new function for Eco1 in negatively regulating cohesin translocase activity, which powers loop extrusion. In the absence of negative regulation, the main barrier to DNA loop expansion appears to be the centromere. Those results provide new insights on the mechanisms regulating cohesin dependent DNA looping.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 702-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenzhu Li ◽  
Xiangwei He

Abstract Canonical meiosis is characterized by two sequential rounds of nuclear divisions following one round of DNA replication—reductional segregation of homologous chromosomes during the first division and equational segregation of sister chromatids during the second division. Meiosis in an inverted order of two nuclear divisions—inverted meiosis has been observed in several species with holocentromeres as an adaptive strategy to overcome the obstacle in executing a canonical meiosis due to the holocentric chromosome structure. Recent findings of co-existence of inverted and canonical meiosis in two monocentric organisms, human and fission yeast, suggested that inverted meiosis could be common and also lead to the puzzle regarding the mechanistic feasibility for executing two meiosis programs simultaneously. Here, we discuss apparent conflicts for concurrent canonical meiosis and inverted meiosis. Furthermore, we attempt to provide a working model that may be compatible for both forms of meiosis.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. e12768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Matsuda ◽  
Lin Shao ◽  
Jerome Boulanger ◽  
Charles Kervrann ◽  
Peter M. Carlton ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 740-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwan Watrin ◽  
Vincent Legagneux

ABSTRACT Condensins are heteropentameric complexes that were first identified as structural components of mitotic chromosomes. They are composed of two SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) and three non-SMC subunits. Condensins play a role in the resolution and segregation of sister chromatids during mitosis, as well as in some aspects of mitotic chromosome assembly. Two distinct condensin complexes, condensin I and condensin II, which differ only in their non-SMC subunits, exist. Here, we used an RNA interference approach to deplete hCAP-D2, a non-SMC subunit of condensin I, in HeLa cells. We found that the association of hCAP-H, another non-SMC subunit of condensin I, with mitotic chromosomes depends on the presence of hCAP-D2. Moreover, chromatid axes, as defined by topoisomerase II and hCAP-E localization, are disorganized in the absence of hCAP-D2, and the resolution and segregation of sister chromatids are impaired. In addition, hCAP-D2 depletion affects chromosome alignment in metaphase and delays entry into anaphase. This suggests that condensin I is involved in the correct attachment between chromosome kinetochores and microtubules of the mitotic spindle. These results are discussed relative to the effects of depleting both condensin complexes.


Author(s):  
S. W. Botchway ◽  
S. Farooq ◽  
A. Sajid ◽  
I. K. Robinson ◽  
M. Yusuf

AbstractThe organization of chromatin into higher-order structures and its condensation process represent one of the key challenges in structural biology. This is important for elucidating several disease states. To address this long-standing problem, development of advanced imaging methods has played an essential role in providing understanding into mitotic chromosome structure and compaction. Amongst these are two fast evolving fluorescence imaging technologies, specifically fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and super-resolution microscopy (SRM). FLIM in particular has been lacking in the application of chromosome research while SRM has been successfully applied although not widely. Both these techniques are capable of providing fluorescence imaging with nanometer information. SRM or “nanoscopy” is capable of generating images of DNA with less than 50 nm resolution while FLIM when coupled with energy transfer may provide less than 20 nm information. Here, we discuss the advantages and limitations of both methods followed by their contribution to mitotic chromosome studies. Furthermore, we highlight the future prospects of how advancements in new technologies can contribute in the field of chromosome science.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5156-5168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue A. Krause ◽  
Marie-Louise Loupart ◽  
Sharron Vass ◽  
Stefan Schoenfelder ◽  
Steve Harrison ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Two alleles of the Drosophila melanogaster Rfc4(DmRfc4) gene, which encodes subunit 4 of the replication factor C (RFC) complex, cause striking defects in mitotic chromosome cohesion and condensation. These mutations produce larval phenotypes consistent with a role in DNA replication but also result in mitotic chromosomal defects appearing either as premature chromosome condensation-like or precocious sister chromatid separation figures. Though the DmRFC4 protein localizes to all replicating nuclei, it is dispersed from chromatin in mitosis. Thus the mitotic defects appear not to be the result of a direct role for RFC4 in chromosome structure. We also show that the mitotic defects in these twoDmRfc4 alleles are the result of aberrant checkpoint control in response to DNA replication inhibition or damage to chromosomes. Not all surveillance function is compromised in these mutants, as the kinetochore attachment checkpoint is operative. Intriguingly, metaphase delay is frequently observed with the more severe of the two alleles, indicating that subsequent chromosome segregation may be inhibited. This is the first demonstration that subunit 4 of RFC functions in checkpoint control in any organism, and our findings additionally emphasize the conserved nature of RFC's involvement in checkpoint control in multicellular eukaryotes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document