Open AccessChromosome cohesion – rings, knots, orcs and fellowship
Author(s) -
Laura A. Díaz-Martínez,
Juan F. Giménez-Abián,
Duncan J. Clarke
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.029132
Subject(s) - cohesin , establishment of sister chromatid cohesion , biology , separase , chromatid , anaphase , sister chromatids , cohesion (chemistry) , chromosome segregation , genetics , kinetochore , microbiology and biotechnology , chromosome , chemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Sister-chromatid cohesion is essential for accurate chromosome segregation. A key discovery towards our understanding of sister-chromatid cohesion was made 10 years ago with the identification of cohesins. Since then, cohesins have been shown to be involved in cohesion in numerous organisms, from yeast to mammals. Studies of the composition, regulation and structure of the cohesin complex led to a model in which cohesin loading during S-phase establishes cohesion, and cohesin cleavage at the onset of anaphase allows sister-chromatid separation. However, recent studies have revealed activities that provide cohesion in the absence of cohesin. Here we review these advances and propose an integrative model in which chromatid cohesion is a result of the combined activities of multiple cohesion mechanisms.