Dissection of the essential steps for condensin accumulation at kinetochores and rDNAs during fission yeast mitosis

The condensin complex has a fundamental role in chromosome dynamics. In this study, we report that accumulation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe condensin at mitotic kinetochores and ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs) occurs in multiple steps and is necessary for normal segregation of the sister kinetochores and rDNAs. Nuclear entry of condensin at the onset of mitosis requires Cut15/importin alpha and Cdc2 phosphorylation. Ark1/aurora and Cut17/Bir1/survivin are needed to dock the condensin at both the kinetochores and rDNAs. Furthermore, proteins that are necessary to form the chromatin architecture of the kinetochores (Mis6, Cnp1, and Mis13) and rDNAs (Nuc1 and Acr1) are required for condensin to accumulate specifically at these sites. Acr1 (accumulation of condensin at rDNA 1) is an rDNA upstream sequence binding protein that physically interacts with Rrn5, Rrn11, Rrn7, and Spp27 and is required for the proper accumulation of Nuc1 at rDNAs. The mechanism of condensin accumulation at the kinetochores may be conserved, as human condensin II fails to accumulate at kinetochores in hMis6 RNA interference-treated cells.