The cohesin complex topologically encircles DNA to promote sister chromatid cohesion. Alternatively, cohesin extrudes DNA loops, thought to reflect chromatin domain formation. Here, we propose a structure-based model explaining both activities. ATP and DNA binding promote cohesin conformational changes that guide DNA through a kleisin N-gate into a DNA gripping state. Two HEAT-repeat DNA binding modules, associated with cohesin’s heads and hinge, are now juxtaposed. Gripping state disassembly, following ATP hydrolysis, triggers unidirectional hinge module movement, which completes topological DNA entry by directing DNA through the ATPase head gate. If head gate passage fails, hinge module motion creates a Brownian ratchet that, instead, drives loop extrusion. Molecular-mechanical simulations of gripping state formation and resolution cycles recapitulate experimentally observed DNA loop extrusion characteristics. Our model extends to asymmetric and symmetric loop extrusion, as well as z-loop formation. Loop extrusion by biased Brownian motion has important implications for chromosomal cohesin function.
Ubiquitous Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes use a proteinaceous ring-shaped architecture to organize and individualize chromosomes, thereby facilitating chromosome segregation. They utilize cycles of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding and hydrolysis to transport themselves rapidly with respect to DNA, a process requiring protein conformational changes and multiple DNA contact sites. By analysing changes in the architecture and stoichiometry of the Escherichia coli SMC complex, MukBEF, as a function of nucleotide binding to MukB and subsequent ATP hydrolysis, we demonstrate directly the formation of dimer of MukBEF dimer complexes, dependent on dimeric MukF kleisin. Using truncated and full length MukB, in combination with MukEF, we show that engagement of the MukB ATPase heads on nucleotide binding directs the formation of dimers of heads-engaged dimer complexes. Complex formation requires functional interactions between the C- and N-terminal domains of MukF with the MukB head and neck, respectively, and MukE, which organizes the complexes by stabilizing binding of MukB heads to MukF. In the absence of head engagement, a MukF dimer bound by MukE forms complexes containing only a dimer of MukB. Finally, we demonstrate that cells expressing MukBEF complexes in which MukF is monomeric are Muk−, with the complexes failing to associate with chromosomes.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic respiratory pathogen that remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with infants and the elderly at the highest risk. S. pneumoniae relies entirely on carbohydrates as a source of carbon and dedicates a third of all uptake systems to carbohydrate import. The structure of the carbohydrate-free substrate-binding protein SP0092 at 1.61 Å resolution reveals it to belong to the newly proposed subclass G of substratebinding proteins, with a ligand-binding pocket that is large enough to accommodate complex oligosaccharides. SP0092 is a dimer in solution and the crystal structure reveals a domain-swapped dimer with the monomer subunits in a closed conformation but in the absence of carbohydrate ligand. This closed conformation may be induced by dimer formation and could be used as a mechanism to regulate carbohydrate uptake.
Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes use a proteinaceous ring-shaped architecture to organise chromosomes, thereby facilitating chromosome segregation. They utilise cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis to transport themselves rapidly with respect to DNA, a process requiring protein conformational changes and multiple DNA contacts. We have analysed changes in the architecture of the Escherichia coli SMC complex, MukBEF, as a function of nucleotide binding to MukB and subsequent ATP hydrolysis. This builds upon previous work showing that MukF kleisin directs formation of a MukBEF tripartite ring as a consequence of functional interactions between the C-and N-terminal domains of MukF with the MukB head and neck, respectively (Zawadzka et al., 2018). Using both model truncated substrates and complexesAlthough the Escherichia coli SMC complex, MukBEF, shares many aspects of the distinctive SMC complex architecture, its kleisin, MukF, is dimeric, which could potentially facilitate the formation and action of higher order complexes (Fennell-Fezzie et al., 2005; Badrinaryananan et al., 2012;Nolivos and Sherratt, 2014). MukBEF homologs are only found in a fraction of γproteobacteria, where they have co-evolved with a group of other proteins, including MatP, Dam and SeqA (Brézellec et al., 2006). MukBEF also coordinates the localization and action of TopoIV
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