Structural changes in chromosomes driven by multiple condensin motors during mitosis

Abstract

We created a computational framework that describes the loop extrusion (LE) by multiple condensin I and II motors in order to investigate the changes in chromosome organization during mitosis. The theory accurately reproduces the experimentally measured contact probability profiles for the mitotic chromosomes in HeLa and DT40 cells. The rate of loop extrusion is smaller at the start of mitosis and increases as the cells approach the metaphase. The mean loop size generated by condensin II is about six times larger than the ones created by condensin I. The loops, which overlap with each other, are stapled to a central dynamically changing helical scaffold formed by the motors during the LE process. The structures of the mitotic chromosomes, using a data-driven method that uses the Hi-C contact map as input, are best described as random helix perversion (RHP) in which the handedness changes randomly along the scaffold. The extent of propagation in the RHP structures is less in HeLa cells than in the DT40 chromosomes.