Potential roles of condensin in genome organization and beyond in fission yeast

The genome is highly organized hierarchically by the function of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complex proteins such as condensin and cohesin from bacteria to humans. Although the roles of SMC complex proteins have been well characterized, their specialized roles in nuclear processes remain unclear. Condensin and cohesin have distinct binding sites and mediate long-range and short-range genomic associations, respectively, to form cell cycle-specific genome organization. Condensin can be recruited to highly expressed genes as well as dispersed repeat genetic elements, such as Pol III-transcribed genes, LTR retrotransposon, and rDNA repeat. In particular, mitotic transcription factors Ace2 and Ams2 recruit condensin to their target genes, forming centromeric clustering during mitosis. Condensin is potentially involved in various chromosomal processes such as the mobility of chromosomes, chromosome territories, DNA reannealing, and transcription factories. The current knowledge of condensin in fission yeast summarized in this review can help us understand how condensin mediates genome organization and participates in chromosomal processes in other organisms.