Chromosome Condensation Defects in barren RNA-Interfered Drosophila Cells

• Published in: Genetics (Austin) Vol. 165; no. 3; pp. 1607 - 1611
• Main Authors: Somma, Maria Patrizia, Fasulo, Barbara, Siriaco, Giorgia, Cenci, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Genetics Soc America 01.11.2003; Genetics Society of America
• Subjects: Animals; barren gene; Base Sequence; Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA Primers; Drosophila; Drosophila - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Genetics; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Inactivation; Mutation; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA Interference; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0016-6731; 1943-2631; 1943-2631
• DOI: 10.1093/genetics/165.3.1607

Barren, the Drosophila homolog of XCAP-H, is one of three non-SMC subunits of condensin, a conserved 13S multiprotein complex required for chromosome condensation. Mutations in barren (barr) were originally shown to affect sister-chromatid separation during mitosis 16 of the Drosophila embryo, whereas condensation defects were not detected. In contrast, mutations in yeast homologs of barren result in defective mitotic chromosome condensation as well as irregular chromatid separation. We have used double-stranded RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) to deplete Barren in Drosophila S2 cells. Our analyses indicate that inactivation of barr leads to extensive chromosome condensation and disrupts chromatid segregation.