The making of the mitotic chromosome: modern insights into classical questions

Mol Cell. 2003 Mar;11(3):557-69. doi: 10.1016/s1097-2765(03)00103-5.

Abstract

The condensation of mitotic chromosomes is essential for the faithful segregation of sister chromatids in anaphase. An emerging view is that chromosome assembly is an active and dynamic process of chromatin reorganization in which two ATP hydrolyzing enzymes, topoisomerase II and the condensin complex, play central roles. In this review, we discuss recent work that sheds new light on the molecular and structural dynamics of mitotic chromosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Anaphase
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Chromatids / ultrastructure*
  • Chromosomes / ultrastructure*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Mitosis / physiology*
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Phosphorylation

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histones
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • condensin complexes
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • DNA
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II