PICH and BLM limit histone association with anaphase centromeric DNA threads and promote their resolution
Open Access
- 8 July 2011
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in The EMBO Journal
- Vol. 30 (16), 3309-3321
- https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2011.226
Abstract
Centromeres nucleate the formation of kinetochores and are vital for chromosome segregation during mitosis. The SNF2 family helicase PICH (Plk1‐interacting checkpoint helicase) and the BLM (the Bloom's syndrome protein) helicase decorate ultrafine histone‐negative DNA threads that link the segregating sister centromeres during anaphase. The functions of PICH and BLM at these threads are not understood, however. Here, we show that PICH binds to BLM and enables BLM localization to anaphase centromeric threads. PICH‐ or BLM‐RNAi cells fail to resolve these threads in anaphase. The fragmented threads form centromeric‐chromatin‐containing micronuclei in daughter cells. Anaphase threads in PICH‐ and BLM‐RNAi cells contain histones and centromere markers. Recombinant purified PICH has nucleosome remodelling activities in vitro. We propose that PICH and BLM unravel centromeric chromatin and keep anaphase DNA threads mostly free of nucleosomes, thus allowing these threads to span long distances between rapidly segregating centromeres without breakage and providing a spatiotemporal window for their resolution.Keywords
This publication has 47 references indexed in Scilit:
- Building centromeres: home sweet home or a nomadic existence?Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, 2010
- PICH and Cotargeted Plk1 Coordinately Maintain Prometaphase Chromosome Arm ArchitectureMolecular Biology of the Cell, 2010
- Centromere DNA decatenation depends on cohesin removal and is required for mammalian cell divisionJournal of Cell Science, 2010
- The Kinetochore and the Centromere: A Working Long Distance RelationshipAnnual Review of Genetics, 2009
- Re-examination of siRNA specificity questions role of PICH and Tao1 in the spindle checkpoint and identifies Mad2 as a sensitive target for small RNAsChromosoma, 2009
- BLM helicase stimulates the ATPase and chromatin-remodeling activities of RAD54Journal of Cell Science, 2009
- RecQ helicases: multifunctional genome caretakersNature Reviews Cancer, 2009
- Clearing the way for mitosis: is cohesin a target?Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2009
- The FANC pathway and BLM collaborate during mitosis to prevent micro-nucleation and chromosome abnormalitiesNature, 2009
- BLAP18/RMI2, a novel OB-fold-containing protein, is an essential component of the Bloom helicase–double Holliday junction dissolvasomeGenes & Development, 2008