Temporal and spatial coordination of DNA segregation and cell division in an archaeon

J Joe Parham (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) V Valerio Sorichetti (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) A Alice Cezanne S Sherman Foo (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) Y Yin-Wei Kuo (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) B Baukje Hoogenberg (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) A Arthur Radoux-Mergault (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) E Eloise Mawdesley (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) L Lydia Daniels Gatward (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) J Jerome Boulanger (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) U Ulrike Schulze (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology) A Anđela Šarić (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) B Buzz Baum (Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology)

Abstract

Cells must coordinate DNA segregation with cytokinesis to ensure that each daughter cell inherits a complete genome. Here, we explore how DNA segregation and division are mechanistically coupled in archaeal relatives of eukaryotes, which lack Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)/Cyclins. Using live cell imaging, we first describe the series of sequential changes in DNA organization that accompany cell division in Sulfolobus, which computational modeling shows likely aid genome segregation. Through a perturbation analysis we identify a regulatory checkpoint which ensures that the compaction of the genome into two spatially segregated nucleoids only occurs once cells have assembled a division ring—which also defines the axis of DNA segregation. Finally, we show that DNA compaction and segregation depend, in part, on a ParA homologue, SegA, and its partner SegB, whose absence leads to bridging DNA. Taken together, these data show how regulatory checkpoints like those operating in eukaryotes aid high-fidelity division in an archaeon.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 42
Published October 21, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (13)

J

Joe Parham

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

V

Valerio Sorichetti

Institute of Science and Technology Austria

A

Alice Cezanne

S

Sherman Foo

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Y

Yin-Wei Kuo

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

B

Baukje Hoogenberg

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

A

Arthur Radoux-Mergault

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

E

Eloise Mawdesley

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

L

Lydia Daniels Gatward

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

J

Jerome Boulanger

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

U

Ulrike Schulze

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology

A

Anđela Šarić

Institute of Science and Technology Austria

B

Buzz Baum

Division of Cell Biology, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology