Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes

Within living cells, chromosome shapes undergo a striking morphological transition, from loose and uncondensed fibers during interphase to compacted and cylindrical structures during mitosis. ATP driven loop extrusion performed by a specialized protein complex, condensin, has recently emerged as a k...

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Main Authors: Giada Forte, Lora Boteva, Nick Gilbert, Peter R. Cook, Davide Marenduzzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Nucleus
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19491034.2025.2497765
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author Giada Forte
Lora Boteva
Nick Gilbert
Peter R. Cook
Davide Marenduzzo
author_facet Giada Forte
Lora Boteva
Nick Gilbert
Peter R. Cook
Davide Marenduzzo
author_sort Giada Forte
collection DOAJ
description Within living cells, chromosome shapes undergo a striking morphological transition, from loose and uncondensed fibers during interphase to compacted and cylindrical structures during mitosis. ATP driven loop extrusion performed by a specialized protein complex, condensin, has recently emerged as a key driver of this transition. However, while this mechanism can successfully recapitulate the compaction of chromatids during the early stages of mitosis, it cannot capture structures observed after prophase. Here we hypothesize that a condensin bridging activity plays an additional important role, and review evidence – obtained largely through molecular dynamics simulations – that, in combination with loop extrusion, it can generate compact metaphase cylinders. Additionally, the resulting model qualitatively explains the unusual elastic properties of mitotic chromosomes observed in micromanipulation experiments and provides insights into the role of condensins in the formation of abnormal chromosome structures associated with common fragile sites.
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1949-1042
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spelling doaj-art-d70176e24f6b4528ad48384a706bb8db2025-08-20T03:52:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupNucleus1949-10341949-10422025-12-0116110.1080/19491034.2025.2497765Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomesGiada Forte0Lora Boteva1Nick Gilbert2Peter R. Cook3Davide Marenduzzo4SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKMRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UKMRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UKSir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKSUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKWithin living cells, chromosome shapes undergo a striking morphological transition, from loose and uncondensed fibers during interphase to compacted and cylindrical structures during mitosis. ATP driven loop extrusion performed by a specialized protein complex, condensin, has recently emerged as a key driver of this transition. However, while this mechanism can successfully recapitulate the compaction of chromatids during the early stages of mitosis, it cannot capture structures observed after prophase. Here we hypothesize that a condensin bridging activity plays an additional important role, and review evidence – obtained largely through molecular dynamics simulations – that, in combination with loop extrusion, it can generate compact metaphase cylinders. Additionally, the resulting model qualitatively explains the unusual elastic properties of mitotic chromosomes observed in micromanipulation experiments and provides insights into the role of condensins in the formation of abnormal chromosome structures associated with common fragile sites.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19491034.2025.2497765Bridging activitychromatincondensinmitotic compactioncommon fragile sites
spellingShingle Giada Forte
Lora Boteva
Nick Gilbert
Peter R. Cook
Davide Marenduzzo
Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
Nucleus
Bridging activity
chromatin
condensin
mitotic compaction
common fragile sites
title Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
title_full Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
title_fullStr Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
title_full_unstemmed Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
title_short Bridging-mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
title_sort bridging mediated compaction of mitotic chromosomes
topic Bridging activity
chromatin
condensin
mitotic compaction
common fragile sites
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19491034.2025.2497765
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AT loraboteva bridgingmediatedcompactionofmitoticchromosomes
AT nickgilbert bridgingmediatedcompactionofmitoticchromosomes
AT peterrcook bridgingmediatedcompactionofmitoticchromosomes
AT davidemarenduzzo bridgingmediatedcompactionofmitoticchromosomes