Work

Looping the Genome with SMC Complexes

Year: 2023

Type: review

Abstract: SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) protein complexes are an evolutionarily conserved family of motor proteins that hold sister chromatids together and fold genomes throughout the cell cycle by DNA loop extrusion. These complexes play a key role in a variety of functions in the packaging and regulation of chromosomes, and they have been intensely studied in recent years. Despite their importance, the detailed molecular mechanism for DNA loop extrusion by SMC complexes remains unresolved. Here, we describe the roles of SMCs in chromosome biology and particularly review in vitro single-molecule studies that have recently advanced our understanding of SMC proteins. We describe the mechanistic biophysical aspects of loop extrusion that govern genome organization and its consequences.

Source: Annual Review of Biochemistry

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-032620-110506

Authors: Eugene Kim, Roman Barth, Cees Dekker

Institutions: Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Delft University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, H2020 European Research Council

Awards: Bottom up biophysics approach to resolve the looping structure of chromosomes, Resolving the fundamental building principles of the genome, Development of novel precision genome editing tools and strategies for functional investigation of genetic variants