The evolutionary conserved Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes, cohesin, condensin and Smc5/6, are multi-subunit molecular machines that hydrolyze ATP to topologically entrap DNA molecules within their ring-shaped structure, and to fold chromosomes by rapidly extruding DNA loops. Consequently, the SMC complexes are central for the structural organization of chromosomes, and influence most chromosome-based processes, including chromosome segregation, transcription, DNA replication and repair. Cohesin and condensin have been named based on their main functions as cohesin holds sister chromatids together, and condensin compacts chromosomes. The molecular functions of Smc5/6 remain a mystery in the field of chromosome biology, and … Continue reading Laboratory of DNA Topology and Genome Maintenance