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Protein complexes consisting of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) and kleisin subunits are crucial for the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell proliferation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Two of the best-studied SMC complexes are cohesin and condensin. Cohesin is required to hold sister chromatids together, which allows their bio-orientation on the mitotic spindle. Cleavage of cohesin's kleisin subunit by the separase protease then triggers the movement of sister chromatids into opposite halves of the cell during anaphase. Condensin is required to organize mitotic chromosomes into coherent structures that prevent them from getting tangled up during segregation. Here we describe the discovery of SMC complexes and discuss recent advances in determining how members of this ancient protein family may function at a mechanistic level.

Original publication

DOI

10.1146/annurev.biochem.74.082803.133219

Type

Journal article

Journal

Annu Rev Biochem

Publication Date

2005

Volume

74

Pages

595 - 648

Keywords

Adenosine Triphosphatases, Animals, Bacterial Proteins, Cell Cycle Proteins, Cell Proliferation, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone, Chromosomes, DNA-Binding Proteins, Fungal Proteins, Mitosis, Models, Biological, Models, Molecular, Multiprotein Complexes, Nuclear Proteins