Structural and functional similarities between two bacterial chromosome compacting machineries

Chromosomes are condensed in all forms of life. SMC-based condensins are the key mediators in this process, but their molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Two different condensin complexes have been identified in prokaryotic organisms: MukB–MukE–MukF and SMC–ScpA–ScpB. This review focuses on comparison between the two machineries based on structural, biochemical and other related information in the light of their structure and function.