BACKGROUND: Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes are molecular machines driving chromatin organization at higher levels. In eukaryotes, three SMC complexes (cohesin, condensin and SMC5/6) play key roles in cohesion, condensation, replication, transcription and DNA repair. Their physical binding to DNA requires accessible chromatin. RESULTS: We performed a genetic screen in fission yeast to identify novel factors required for SMC5/6 binding to DNA. We identified 79 genes of which histone acetyltransferases (HATs) were the most represented. Genetic and phenotypic analyses suggested a particularly strong functional relationship between the SMC5/6 and SAGA complexes. Furthermore, several SMC5/6 subunits physically interacted with SAGA HAT module components Gcn5 and Ada2. As Gcn5-dependent acetylation facilitates the accessibility of chromatin to DNA-repair proteins, we first analysed the formation of DNA-damage-induced SMC5/6 foci in the Δgcn5 mutant. The SMC5/6 foci formed normally in Δgcn5, suggesting SAGA-independent SMC5/6 localization to DNA-damaged sites. Next, we used Nse4-FLAG chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) analysis in unchallenged cells to assess SMC5/6 distribution. A significant portion of SMC5/6 accumulated within gene regions in wild-type cells, which was reduced in Δgcn5 and Δada2 mutants. The drop in SMC5/6 levels was also observed in gcn5-E191Q acetyltransferase-dead mutant. CONCLUSION: Our data show genetic and physical interactions between SMC5/6 and SAGA complexes. The ChIP-seq analysis suggests that SAGA HAT module targets SMC5/6 to specific gene regions and facilitates their accessibility for SMC5/6 loading.

• Keywords
• Ada2, Chromatin accessibility, DNA repair, Gcn5, Gene regions, Genetic and protein–protein interactions, Histone H3K9ac acetylation, Nse3 KITE, SAGA histone acetyltransferase module, SMC5/6 complex targeting, rDNA,
• MeSH
• Acetyltransferases genetics   MeSH
• Cell Nucleus metabolism   MeSH
• Chromatin metabolism   MeSH
• Chromosomes metabolism   MeSH
• DNA metabolism   MeSH
• Histone Acetyltransferases genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Carrier Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Acetyltransferases MeSH
• Chromatin MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• Gcn5 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Histone Acetyltransferases MeSH
• Nse4 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Cell Cycle Proteins MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins * MeSH
• Smc5 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• smc6 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Carrier Proteins MeSH

Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes are important for many aspects of the chromosomal organization. Unlike cohesin and condensin, the SMC5/6 complex contains a variant RING domain carried by its Nse1 subunit. RING domains are characteristic for ubiquitin ligases, and human NSE1 has been shown to possess ubiquitin-ligase activity in vitro. However, other studies were unable to show such activity. Here, we confirm Nse1 ubiquitin-ligase activity using purified Schizosaccharomyces pombe proteins. We demonstrate that the Nse1 ligase activity is stimulated by Nse3 and Nse4. We show that Nse1 specifically utilizes Ubc13/Mms2 E2 enzyme and interacts directly with ubiquitin. We identify the Nse1 mutation (R188E) that specifically disrupts its E3 activity and demonstrate that the Nse1-dependent ubiquitination is particularly important under replication stress. Moreover, we determine Nse4 (lysine K181) as the first known SMC5/6-associated Nse1 substrate. Interestingly, abolition of Nse4 modification at K181 leads to suppression of DNA-damage sensitivity of other SMC5/6 mutants. Altogether, this study brings new evidence for Nse1 ubiquitin ligase activity, significantly advancing our understanding of this enigmatic SMC5/6 function.

• Keywords
• Nse1, Nse4 kleisin, SMC5/6, Ubc13/Mms2, ubiquitin ligase, ubiquitination,
• MeSH
• Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Ligases metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Carrier Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Ubiquitin metabolism   MeSH
• Ubiquitination immunology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone MeSH
• Ligases MeSH
• NSMCE1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Cell Cycle Proteins MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins MeSH
• SMC5 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Carrier Proteins MeSH
• Ubiquitin MeSH

The SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) complexes are composed of SMC dimers, kleisin and kleisin-interacting (HAWK or KITE) subunits. Mutual interactions of these subunits constitute the basal architecture of the SMC complexes. In addition, binding of ATP molecules to the SMC subunits and their hydrolysis drive dynamics of these complexes. Here, we developed new systems to follow the interactions between SMC5/6 subunits and the relative stability of the complex. First, we show that the N-terminal domain of the Nse4 kleisin molecule binds to the SMC6 neck and bridges it to the SMC5 head. Second, binding of the Nse1 and Nse3 KITE proteins to the Nse4 linker increased stability of the ATP-free SMC5/6 complex. In contrast, binding of ATP to SMC5/6 containing KITE subunits significantly decreased its stability. Elongation of the Nse4 linker partially suppressed instability of the ATP-bound complex, suggesting that the binding of the KITE proteins to the Nse4 linker constrains its limited size. Our data suggest that the KITE proteins may shape the Nse4 linker to fit the ATP-free complex optimally and to facilitate opening of the complex upon ATP binding. This mechanism suggests an important role of the KITE subunits in the dynamics of the SMC5/6 complexes.

• MeSH
• Adenosine Triphosphatases metabolism   MeSH
• Nuclear Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Macromolecular Substances metabolism   MeSH
• Mutagenesis, Site-Directed MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Sequence Alignment MeSH
• Two-Hybrid System Techniques MeSH
• Carrier Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Binding genetics   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenosine Triphosphatases MeSH
• Nuclear Proteins MeSH
• Macromolecular Substances MeSH
• Nse1 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Nse3 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Nse4 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Cell Cycle Proteins MeSH
• Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins MeSH
• Smc5 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• smc6 protein, S pombe MeSH Browser
• Carrier Proteins MeSH

The maintenance of genome integrity over cell divisions is critical for plant development and the correct transmission of genetic information to the progeny. A key factor involved in this process is the STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE OF CHROMOSOME5 (SMC5) and SMC6 (SMC5/6) complex, related to the cohesin and condensin complexes that control sister chromatid alignment and chromosome condensation, respectively. Here, we characterize NON-SMC ELEMENT4 (NSE4) paralogs of the SMC5/6 complex in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). NSE4A is expressed in meristems and accumulates during DNA damage repair. Partial loss-of-function nse4a mutants are viable but hypersensitive to DNA damage induced by zebularine. In addition, nse4a mutants produce abnormal seeds, with noncellularized endosperm and embryos that maximally develop to the heart or torpedo stage. This phenotype resembles the defects in cohesin and condensin mutants and suggests a role for all three SMC complexes in differentiation during seed development. By contrast, NSE4B is expressed in only a few cell types, and loss-of-function mutants do not have any obvious abnormal phenotype. In summary, our study shows that the NSE4A subunit of the SMC5-SMC6 complex is essential for DNA damage repair in somatic tissues and plays a role in plant reproduction.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis embryology   genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Gene Duplication MeSH
• Genome, Plant MeSH
• DNA Repair * genetics   MeSH
• Protein Subunits metabolism   MeSH
• DNA Damage * genetics   MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Pollen genetics   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant MeSH
• Seeds genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Transcriptome genetics   MeSH
• Up-Regulation genetics   MeSH
• Ovule genetics   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• At1g51130 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Browser
• Protein Subunits MeSH
• Cell Cycle Proteins MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins MeSH

The SMC 5/6 complex together with cohesin and condensin is a member of the structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein family. In non-plant organisms SMC5/6 is engaged in DNA repair, meiotic synapsis, genome organization and stability. In plants, the function of SMC5/6 is still enigmatic. Therefore, we analyzed the crucial δ-kleisin component NSE4 of the SMC5/6 complex in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Two functional conserved Nse4 paralogs (Nse4A and Nse4B) are present in A. thaliana, which may have evolved via gene subfunctionalization. Due to its high expression level, Nse4A seems to be the more essential gene, whereas Nse4B appears to be involved mainly in seed development. The morphological characterization of A. thaliana T-DNA mutants suggests that the NSE4 proteins are essential for plant growth and fertility. Detailed investigations in wild-type and the mutants based on live cell imaging of transgenic GFP lines, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunolabeling and super-resolution microscopy suggest that NSE4A acts in several processes during plant development, such as mitosis, meiosis and chromatin organization of differentiated nuclei, and that NSE4A operates in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Differential response of NSE4A and NSE4B mutants after induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) suggests their involvement in DNA repair processes.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis thaliana, NSE4 δ-kleisin, SMC5/6 complex, meiosis, mitosis, nucleus, phylogeny, super-resolution microscopy,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The genome replication process is challenged at many levels. Replication must proceed through different problematic sites and obstacles, some of which can pause or even reverse the replication fork (RF). In addition, replication of DNA within chromosomes must deal with their topological constraints and spatial organization. One of the most important factors organizing DNA into higher-order structures are Structural Maintenance of Chromosome (SMC) complexes. In prokaryotes, SMC complexes ensure proper chromosomal partitioning during replication. In eukaryotes, cohesin and SMC5/6 complexes assist in replication. Interestingly, the SMC5/6 complexes seem to be involved in replication in many ways. They stabilize stalled RFs, restrain RF regression, participate in the restart of collapsed RFs, and buffer topological constraints during RF progression. In this (mini) review, I present an overview of these replication-related functions of SMC5/6.

• Keywords
• SMC complexes, SMC5/6, chromatin structure, collapsed replication fork, homologous recombination, loop extrusion, replication fork regression, stalled replication fork,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

BACKGROUND: Studying the patterns of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is fundamental for understanding the structure and function of protein complexes. The exploration of the vast space of possible mutual configurations of interacting proteins and their contact zones is very time consuming and requires the proteomic expert knowledge. RESULTS: In this paper, we propose a novel tool containing a set of visual abstraction techniques for the guided exploration of PPI configuration space. It helps proteomic experts to select the most relevant configurations and explore their contact zones at different levels of detail. The system integrates a set of methods that follow and support the workflow of proteomics experts. The first visual abstraction method, the Matrix view, is based on customized interactive heat maps and provides the users with an overview of all possible residue-residue contacts in all PPI configurations and their interactive filtering. In this step, the user can traverse all input PPI configurations and obtain an overview of their interacting amino acids. Then, the models containing a particular pair of interacting amino acids can be selectively picked and traversed. Detailed information on the individual amino acids in the contact zones and their properties is presented in the Contact-Zone list-view. The list-view provides a comparative tool to rank the best models based on the similarity of their contacts to the template-structure contacts. All these techniques are interactively linked with other proposed methods, the Exploded view and the Open-Book view, which represent individual configurations in three-dimensional space. These representations solve the high overlap problem associated with many configurations. Using these views, the structural alignment of the best models can also be visually confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a system for the exploration of large sets of protein-protein complexes in a fast and intuitive way. The usefulness of our system has been tested and verified on several docking structures covering the three major types of PPIs, including coiled-coil, pocket-string, and surface-surface interactions. Our case studies prove that our tool helps to analyse and filter protein-protein complexes in a fraction of the time compared to using previously available techniques.

• Keywords
• Contact zone, Protein-protein interaction, Visualization,
• MeSH
• Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs MeSH
• Protein Interaction Mapping methods   MeSH
• Proteins chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Structure, Tertiary MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Proteins MeSH

Chromosome organization, dynamics and stability are required for successful passage through cellular generations and transmission of genetic information to offspring. The key components involved are Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes. Cohesin complex ensures proper chromatid alignment, condensin complex chromosome condensation and the SMC5/6 complex is specialized in the maintenance of genome stability. Here we summarize recent knowledge on the composition and molecular functions of SMC5/6 complex. SMC5/6 complex was originally identified based on the sensitivity of its mutants to genotoxic stress but there is increasing number of studies demonstrating its roles in the control of DNA replication, sister chromatid resolution and genomic location-dependent promotion or suppression of homologous recombination. Some of these functions appear to be due to a very dynamic interaction with cohesin or other repair complexes. Studies in Arabidopsis indicate that, besides its canonical function in repair of damaged DNA, the SMC5/6 complex plays important roles in regulating plant development, abiotic stress responses, suppression of autoimmune responses and sexual reproduction.

• Keywords
• DNA damage repair, SMC5/6, Structural maintenance of chromosomes, chromatin, chromosomes, genome stability,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH