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Chromosomes

Getting the architecture right

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 14, pages 2–3 (2013)Cite this article

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Two non-histone scaffold proteins, topoisomerase IIα and condensin, were known to be involved in mitotic chromosome condensation in several organisms and to localize along chromatid axes. Interestingly, previous studies had shown that cells depleted of either of these proteins can still form recognizable mitotic chromosomes, albeit with imperfect morphology. This prompted Earnshaw and colleagues to hypothesize that other scaffold proteins might also have important roles in chromosome architecture. One possible candidate was the plus end-directed microtubule motor KIF4, which is mainly nuclear and localizes to chromatid axes and the spindle during mitosis.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Samejima, K. et al. Mitotic chromosomes are compacted laterally by KIF4 and condensin and axially by topoisomerase IIα. J. Cell Biol. 199, 755–770 (2012)

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  1. Kim Baumann
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Baumann, K. Getting the architecture right. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 14, 2–3 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3498

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3498

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