Ki-67 and condensins support the integrity of mitotic chromosomes through distinct mechanisms

M Takagi, T Ono, T Natsume… - Journal of cell …, 2018 - journals.biologists.com
M Takagi, T Ono, T Natsume, C Sakamoto, M Nakao, N Saitoh, MT Kanemaki, T Hirano…
Journal of cell science, 2018journals.biologists.com
Although condensins play essential roles in mitotic chromosome assembly, Ki-67 (also
known as MKI67), a protein localizing to the periphery of mitotic chromosomes, had also
been shown to make a contribution to the process. To examine their respective roles, we
generated a set of HCT116-based cell lines expressing Ki-67 and/or condensin subunits
that were fused with an auxin-inducible degron for their conditional degradation. Both the
localization and the dynamic behavior of Ki-67 on mitotic chromosomes were not largely …
Abstract
Although condensins play essential roles in mitotic chromosome assembly, Ki-67 (also known as MKI67), a protein localizing to the periphery of mitotic chromosomes, had also been shown to make a contribution to the process. To examine their respective roles, we generated a set of HCT116-based cell lines expressing Ki-67 and/or condensin subunits that were fused with an auxin-inducible degron for their conditional degradation. Both the localization and the dynamic behavior of Ki-67 on mitotic chromosomes were not largely affected upon depletion of condensin subunits, and vice versa. When both Ki-67 and SMC2 (a core subunit of condensins) were depleted, ball-like chromosome clusters with no sign of discernible thread-like structures were observed. This severe defective phenotype was distinct from that observed in cells depleted of either Ki-67 or SMC2 alone. Our results show that Ki-67 and condensins, which localize to the external surface and the central axis of mitotic chromosomes, respectively, have independent yet cooperative functions in supporting the structural integrity of mitotic chromosomes.
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