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Localization of human SMC1 protein at kinetochores

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Abstract

Proper cohesion of sister chromatids is prerequisite for correct segregation of chromosomes during cell division. The cohesin multiprotein complex, conserved in eukaryotes, is required for sister chromatid cohesion. Human cohesin is composed of a stable heterodimer of the structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) family proteins, hSMC1 and hSMC3, and non-SMC components, hRAD21 and SA1 (or SA2). In yeast, cohesin associates with chromosomes from late G1 to metaphase and is required for the establishment and maintenance of both chromosome arm and centromeric cohesion. However, in human cells, the majority of cohesin dissociates from chromosomes before mitosis. Although it was recently shown that a small amount of hRAD21 localizes to the centromeres during metaphase, the presence of other cohesin components at the centromere has not been demonstrated in human cells. Here we report the mitosis-specific localization of hSMC1 to the kinetochores. hSMC1 is targeted to the kinetochore region during prophase concomitant with kinetochore assembly and remains through anaphase. Importantly, hSMC1 is targeted only to the active centromere on dicentric chromosomes. These results suggest that hSMC1 is an integral component of the functional kinetochore structure during mitosis.

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Author notes

  1. Aaron A. Van Hooser

    Present address: Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 142 Life Sciences Addition #3200, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3200, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine, 240D Med. Sci. I, Irvine, CA, 92697-1700, USA

    Heather C. Gregson, Alexander R. Ball Jr. & Kyoko Yokomori

  2. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Aaron A. Van Hooser & B. R. Brinkley

Authors
  1. Heather C. Gregson
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  2. Aaron A. Van Hooser
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  3. Alexander R. Ball Jr.
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  4. B. R. Brinkley
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  5. Kyoko Yokomori
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Gregson, H.C., Van Hooser, A.A., Ball, A.R. et al. Localization of human SMC1 protein at kinetochores. Chromosome Res 10, 267–277 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016563523208

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016563523208

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