Seeing chromosome structure reveals its function

Chromosome Segregation: Seeing Is Believing

For chromosome segregation in mitosis, each centromere directs assembly of a complex, proteinaceous structure - the kinetochore, which connects the chromosome to microtubules of the mitotic spindle. A recent study has provided important new insights into the mechanism by which kinetochores capture spindle microtubules.

Crystal structure of yeast V-ATPase subunit C reveals its stator function.

Vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) has a crucial role in the vacuolar system of eukaryotic cells. It provides most of the energy required for transport systems that utilize the proton-motive force that is generated by ATP hydrolysis. Some, but not all, of the V-ATPase subunits are homologous to those of F-ATPase and the nonhomologous subunits determine the unique features of V-ATPase. We determine...

Cyt1Aa toxin: crystal structure reveals implications for its membrane-perforating function.

During sporulation, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis produces a mosquito larvicidal protein complex containing several crystalline and cytolytic (Cyt) toxins. Here, the activated monomeric form of Cyt1Aa, the most toxic Cyt family member, was isolated and crystallized, and its structure was determined for the first time at 2.2 Å resolution. Cyt1Aa adopts a typical cytolysin fold contai...

Rna and Its Structure, Function and Types

Chromosome Structure

Biology is divided into three great kingdoms: Eubacteria, Archaea and Eukaryota. Bacteria (Eubacteria and Archaea) are ubiquitous in the environment, and these small single-celled organisms growover an amazinglywide range of environmental conditions. For example, bacteria can grow at temperatures below freezing, and certainmembers of the archaea can grow at depths of over threemiles and at temp...