condensins

This suggests that condensins promote mitotic progression and maintain interphase chromatin compaction in ES cells-functions that they don't have in somatic cells.

PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2010

It isn't clear why ES cells are so sensitive to the loss of condensins, but it may be connected to two other phenotypes seen in ES, but not somatic, cells.

PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2010

Because somatic cells lacking condensins continue to proliferate with relatively minor mitotic defects, Fazzio and Panning wondered why ES cells died in the absence of Smc2 or Smc4.

PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2010

Absence of condensins and/or CENP-A insufficiency produced a specific kinetochore defect, such that a functional mitotic checkpoint cannot prevent chromosome missegregation resulting from improper attachment of sister kinetochores to spindle microtubules.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009

Thus, beyond a requirement for global chromosome condensation, condensins play a pivotal role in centromere assembly, proper spatial positioning of microtubule-capturing modules and positioning complexes of the inner centromere versus kinetochore plates.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009

Our findings indicate that condensins function to prevent centromere defects, which likely originate and/or are accompanied with depletion of CENP-A and a loss of centromere rigidity in mitosis.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009

One prominent aspect of condensins 'activity in vivo is a specific function at centromeres.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009

Thus, the most reasonable view is that both reduced ability to maintain mitotic checkpoint and the ensuing chromosome bridges and breaks in condensins-depleted human cells are dependent on kinetochore dysfunction stemming from improperly structured centromeric chromatin.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009

It is also unknown whether Aurora B functions after kinetochore assembly involves regulation of condensins.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009

The role of condensins in maintaining proper centromere structure has been reported in many metazoan systems and, recently, in yeast.

PLoS ONE Alerts: New Articles Alexander Samoshkin et al. 2009