The Interplay of Cohesin and RNA Processing Factors: The Impact of Their Alterations on Genome Stability

Abstract

Cohesin, a multi-subunit protein complex, plays important roles in sister chromatid cohesion, DNA replication, chromatin organization, gene expression, transcription regulation, and the recombination or repair of DNA damage. Recently, several studies suggested that the functions of cohesin rely not only on cohesin-related protein–protein interactions, their post-translational modifications or specific DNA modifications, but that some RNA processing factors also play an important role in the regulation of cohesin functions. Therefore, the mutations and changes in the expression of cohesin subunits or alterations in the interactions between cohesin and RNA processing factors have been shown to have an impact on cohesion, the fidelity of chromosome segregation and, ultimately, on genome stability. In this review, we provide an overview of the cohesin complex and its role in chromosome segregation, highlight the causes and consequences of mutations and changes in the expression of cohesin subunits, and discuss the RNA processing factors that participate in the regulation of the processes involved in chromosome segregation. Overall, an understanding of the molecular determinants of the interplay between cohesin and RNA processing factors might help us to better understand the molecular mechanisms ensuring the integrity of the genome.

BiFCo: Visualising cohesin assembly/disassembly cycle in living cells

“…Its interaction with chromatin is critical for establishing topologically associated domains, known as TADs, in order to maintain the three-dimensional structure of genomes for the regulation of gene expression over long distances. Furthermore, it is also necessary for preserving the fidelity of other intrinsic DNA processes such as replication and repair, transcription, condensation and cohesion, which are essential for maintaining genomic stability (MERKENSCHLAGER AND NORA 2016;OSADSKA et al 2022). In fact, mutations in some of its components or its regulators cause genetic syndromes (known as cohesinopathies) and several types of cancer in humans (reviewed in (DE KONINCK AND LOSADA 2016;DI NARDO et al 2022).…”

BiFCo: visualizing cohesin assembly/disassembly cycle in living cells

“…Its interaction with chromatin is critical for loop–extrusion-mediated topologically associated domains, known as TADs, that regulate gene expression over long distances in many cases ( Wendt & Peters, 2009 ; Wutz et al, 2017 ). Furthermore, it is necessary for preserving the fidelity of other intrinsic DNA processes, such as replication and repair, transcription, condensation, and cohesion, that are essential for maintaining genomic stability ( Merkenschlager & Nora, 2016 ; Osadska et al, 2022 ). Mutations in some of its components or regulators cause genetic syndromes, known as cohesinopathies, and several types of cancers in humans (reviewed in De Koninck and Losada [2016] and Di Nardo et al [2022] ).…”