Click here to sign in with or
by Shreya Ghosh, European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Our cells perform a marvel of engineering when it comes to packing information into small spaces. Every time a cell divides, it bundles up an amazing 4 meters of DNA into 46 tiny packages, each of which is only several millionths of a meter in length. Researchers from EMBL Heidelberg and the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg have now discovered how a family of DNA motor proteins succeeds in packaging loosely arranged strands of DNA into compact individual chromosomes during cell division.
The researchers studied condensin, a protein complex critical to the process of chromosome formation. Although this complex was discovered more than three decades ago, its mode of action remained largely unexplored. In 2018, researchers from the Häring group at EMBL Heidelberg and their collaborators showed that condensin molecules create loops of DNA, which may explain how chromosomes are formed. However, the inner workings by which the protein complex achieves this feat remained unknown.
"We have been working on this problem for a long time. But only now, by combining different experimental approaches, we have found an answer to this long-standing question," said Christian Häring, former Group Leader at EMBL Heidelberg and now Professor at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg.
Through meticulously designed experiments, some of which involved observing and manipulating single condensin molecules while they were in the process of forming DNA loops, the researchers found how different parts of the complex collectively act as a molecular machine: one part holds the DNA steady, like an anchor, whereas the other acts as a motor which moves the DNA forward, thus creating a wide loop.
Like other motor proteins, condensin takes "steps" along the DNA, burning cellular energy in the form of ATP while doing so. However, these steps are more than 500 times longer than the steps taken by other DNA motor proteins, even though the amount of energy used is roughly the same. "It's like a formula one racing car with the energy efficiency of an e-bike," said Indra Shaltiel, the first author.
"Advancements in cryo-electron microscopy techniques allowed us to visualize this complex mechanism in unprecedented detail," said Sebastian Eustermann, Group Leader at EMBL Heidelberg and a senior author of the study published in Science. "We could capture condensin in action and derived a molecular choreography of how ATP fuels its motor activity—a key step towards understanding DNA loop formation. Similar loops and related molecular machines have been implicated in diverse genomic processes, including the control of how genes are switched on and off in between cell divisions. Consequently, our findings may have even wider implications."
Condensins belong to one of the most evolutionarily ancient families of chromosomal proteins. The discovery of this new mechanism thus opens up a whole new field of study. "Members of the class of motor proteins condensin belongs to are presumably essential for all life on earth," Häring said. "It is obvious we are only just starting to understand their roles and how they might be affected in human conditions." Explore further Condensins mutually interact to fold DNA into a zigzag structure More information: Indra A. Shaltiel et al, A hold-and-feed mechanism drives directional DNA loop extrusion by condensin, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abm4012 Journal information: Science
Provided by European Molecular Biology Laboratory Citation: Uncovering the inner workings of the molecular machinery that shapes chromosomes during cell division (2022, June 3) retrieved 3 June 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-06-uncovering-molecular-machinery-chromosomes-cell.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.More from Physics Forums | Science Articles, Homework Help, Discussion
Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines).
Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request
Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.
Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.
Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.
Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.
Medical research advances and health news
The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances
The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web
This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.