Eileen Hogan

In vivo dissection of the chromosome condensation machinery reversibility of condensation distinguishes contributions of condensin and cohesin

The machinery mediating chromosome condensation is poorly understood. To begin to dissect the in vivo function(s) of individual components, we monitored mitotic chromosome structure in mutants of condensin, cohesin, histone H3, and topoisomerase II (topo II). In budding yeast, both condensation establishment and maintenance require all of the condensin subunits, but not topo II activity or phospho-histone H3. Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) protein 2, as well as each of the three non-SMC proteins (Ycg1p, Ycs4p, and Brn1p), was required for chromatin binding of the condensin complex in vivo. Using reversible condensin alleles, we show that chromosome condensation does not involve an irreversible modification of condensin or chromosomes. Finally, we provide the first evidence of a mechanistic link between condensin and cohesin function. A model discussing the functional interplay between cohesin and condensin is presented.

The initiation of spermiogenesis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Spermiogenesis in nematodes involves the activation of sessile spherical spermatids to motile bipolar amoeboid spermatozoa. In Caenorhabditis elegans males spermiogenesis is normally induced by copulation. Spermatids transferred to hermaphrodites as well as some of those left behind in the male become spermatozoa a few minutes after mating. Spermiogenesis can also be induced in vitro by the ionophore monensin (G.A. Nelson and S. Ward, 1980, Cell 19, 457-464) and by weak bases such as triethanolamine. Both triethanolamine and monensin cause a rapid increase in intracellular pH from 7.1 to 7.5 or 8.0. This pH increase precedes the subsequent morphological events of spermiogenesis. Triethanolamine or monensin must be present throughout spermiogenesis for all cells to form pseudopods, but once pseudopods are formed the inducers are unnecessary for subsequent motility. The pH induced spermiogenesis is inhibited by drugs that block mitochondria or glycolysis. Protease treatment can also induce spermiogenesis without increasing intracellular pH, apparently bypassing the pH-dependent steps in activation and the requirement for glycolysis. These results show that the initiation of spermiogenesis in C. elegans, like some steps in egg activation and the initiation of sea urchin sperm motility, can be induced by an increase in intracellular pH, but this pH change can be bypassed by proteolysis.