Regulation of meiotic chromosome segregation by cohesin Rec8

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Fission yeast centromeres, like that of higher eukaryotes, are comprised of repeated DNA structures and associated heterochromatin protein complexes, that play a critical role in faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Cohesin protein complexes, which are essential for sister chromatid cohesion and proper chromosome segregation, are enriched at centromeric repeats. We have identified functional and physical link, between heterochromatin and cohesin. We find that the preferential localization of cohesins at the centromeric repeats is dependent on Swi6, a conserved heterochromatin protein that is required for proper kinetochore, function. Cohesin is also enriched at the mating type heterochromatic region in a Swi6 dependent manner and is required to preserve genomic integrity of this locus. We provide evidence that a cohesin subunit Psc3 interacts with Swi6 and its mouse homolog HP1. These data define a conserved function of Swi6/HP1 in recruitment of cohesin to heterochromatic regions, promoting proper segregation of chromosomes.