SMC protein

SMC complexes represent a large family of ATPases that participate in many aspects of higher-order chromosome organization and dynamics.

[16][17] Recently SMC proteins have been shown to aid the daughter cells DNA at the origin of replication to guarantee proper segregation.

In a subclass of Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, a distantly related protein known as MukB plays an equivalent role.

They have a modular structure that is composed of the following domains: SMC dimers form a V-shaped molecule with two long coiled-coil arms.

[19][20] To make such a unique structure, an SMC protomer is self-folded through anti-parallel coiled-coil interactions, forming a rod-shaped molecule.