Abstract

Chromosomes must be properly expressed and segregated for genome stability. Proper condensation of chromosomes is pivotal for the successful execution of both processes, which are controlled in the small round worm C. elegans through paralogous protein complexes. One complex, the condensin complex, is essential for chromosome compaction and resolution during mitosis and meiosis. A highly related complex is critical for the process of X-chromosome dosage compensation, an essential, chromosome-wide regulatory mechanism that balances gene expression between sexes (e.g. XX female, XY or XO male) that differ in their number of sex chromosomes. The C. elegans dosage compensation complex (DCC) is targeted to both X chromosomes of hermaphrodites to repress transcription by half. Not only does the DCC resemble condensin, it shares components with condensin, and DCC components also participate in chromosome segregation and the regulation of crossovers during meiosis. The talk will focus on the changes in chromosome structure effected by paralogous condensin complexes to achieve proper gene expression and chromosome segregation.

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