Nature solves the mystery of chromosome separation

Chromosome Segregation in Focus

Recently, an international team led by scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) analyzed the structure of proteins responsible for chromosome separation and clarified the mechanisms of action that control important players in cell division

This work was published in Nature magazine

Before dividing, the cell copies its DNA and changes from a single chromosome with one arm to a double chromosome.

High-resolution electron microscope reveals regulation mechanism

In this research led by the team of professor Andreas Boland in the Department of Molecular Biology, the scientists used cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM)

 "This technology allows us to observe biological samples with very high resolution while keeping them in their natural state," explains Jun Yu, a researcher in the Department of Molecular Biology at UNIGE and the first author of the study

Using this method, researchers were able to determine several structures of a human isolated enzyme compounded with one of its inhibitors, revealing a new regulatory mechanism for the enzyme

Inhibit proteins by changing their conformation

The researchers discovered that one of the inhibitors: securin directly binds to molecular scissors to block its active site, while the other inhibitor: CCC complex works through a more complex mechanism

Andreas Boland concluded: "Our work has greatly contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms regulating the activation of isolated enzymes and the design of new anti-cancer therapies

(Biocom)

Original link:

http://dx.