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Cell cycle and age-related modulations of mouse chromosome stiffness

Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Chromosome structure is complex, and many aspects of chromosome organization are still not understood. Measuring the stiffness of chromosomes offers valuable insight into their structural properties. In this study, we analyzed the stiffness of chromosomes from metaphase I (MI) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Our results revealed a ten-fold increase in stiffness (Young's modulus) of MI chromosomes compared to somatic chromosomes. Furthermore, the stiffness of MII chromosomes was found to be lower than that of MI chromosomes. We examined the role of meiosis-specific cohesin complexes in regulating chromosome stiffness. Surprisingly, the stiffness of chromosomes from three meiosis-specific cohesin mutants did not significantly differ from that of wild-type chromosomes, indicating that these cohesins may not be primary determinants of chromosome stiffness. Additionally, our findings revealed an age-related increase of chromosome stiffness for MI oocytes. Since aging is associated with elevated levels of DNA damage, we investigated the impact of etoposide-induced DNA damage on chromosome stiffness and found that it led to a reduction in stiffness in MI oocytes. Overall, our study underscores the dynamic and cyclical nature of chromosome stiffness, modulated by both the cell cycle, and by age-related factors.
Source: eLife
DOI: 10.7554/elife.97403.3
Institutions: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Northwestern University
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Meiotic checkpoint pathways and gametocyte quality control, Spatio-Temporal Organization of Chromatin and Information Transfer in Cancer, 1/3: The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC), Center for 3D Structure and Physics of the Genome, Micromechanical basis of meiotic chromosome condensation and architecture, Meiotic checkpoint pathways and gametocyte quality control, Activities of nucleoprotein complexes visualized in single-molecule experiments, Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in Environmental Health and Toxicology, Regulation of microtubule organizing centers during mammalian gametogenesis
OpenAlex ID: W4409410025
FWCI: 0.576
Cites: 83
Cited by: 5
Related to: 10