Abstract
Chromosome organization, dynamics and stability are required for successful passage through cellular generations and transmission of genetic information to offspring. The key components involved are Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes. Cohesin complex ensures proper chromatid alignment, condensin complex chromosome condensation and the SMC5/6 complex is specialized in the maintenance of genome stability. Here we summarize recent knowledge on the composition and molecular functions of SMC5/6 complex. SMC5/6 complex was originally identified based on the sensitivity of its mutants to genotoxic stress but there is increasing number of studies demonstrating its roles in the control of DNA replication, sister chromatid resolution and genomic location-dependent promotion or suppression of homologous recombination. Some of these functions appear to be due to a very dynamic interaction with cohesin or other repair complexes. Studies in Arabidopsis indicate that, besides its canonical function in repair of damaged DNA, the SMC5/6 complex plays important roles in regulating plant development, abiotic stress responses, suppression of autoimmune responses and sexual reproduction.
Highlights
The eukaryotic nuclear genome is organized into linear chromosomes
In Arabidopsis, where centromeres and telomeres show the highest degree of cohesion, in spite of a generally low degree of sister chromatid association during interphase [86], the SMC5/6 complex activity may be stimulated on demand after e.g., occurrence of DNA damage [52]
SMC5/6 complex analysis of publicly available ATH1 expression microarray data [93] we show that Arabidopsis subunits are expressed mainly dividing mainly tissues
Summary
The eukaryotic nuclear genome is organized into linear chromosomes. Chromosomal DNA is wrapped around histone octamers forming nucleosomes. Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes are the key regulators of chromosome dynamics, structure and function in eukaryotes (reviewed in [8,9,10,11,12]). They operate from the scale of whole chromosomes in chromosome segregation to few base pairs in DNA damage repair. The core subunits of SMC complexes are SMC proteins, which are large polypeptides (1000–1300 amino acids) containing Walker A and Walker B motifs at their N- and C-terminal globular domains.
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