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S Phase Assembly of Centromeric Heterochromatin and Cohesion

Volume 3, Issue 4   April 2004
Pages 414 - 416
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/cc.3.4.799
Authors: Julie M. Bailis and Susan L. Forsburg

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Abstract:
Accurate chromosome segregation in mitosis requires cohesion between sister centromeres mediated by heterochromatin. Although establishment of both silent heterochromatin and cohesion require passage through S phase, the mechanism was previously unknown. In our recent paper, we demonstrate that heterochromatin silencing and cohesion at the centromere rely on temporal activation of the conserved S phase protein kinase Hsk1-Dfp1. Hsk1-Dfp1 is needed for heterochromatin assembly downstream of Swi6 binding to chromatin; importantly, this activity is independent of the replication function of Hsk1-Dfp1. This defines a temporal connection between S phase, heterochromatin and cohesion that is independent of replication fork passage.

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