Takaharu Kanno

This study defines the pre-catalytic activation pathway of the Smc5/6 complex using cryo-EM and conformational analysis, revealing a structural transition from Bridge to Engaged states.

This study shows that dimeric SMC motors switch extrusion directionality based on DNA tension, with cohesin being constitutively biased toward one-sided extrusion.

This study identifies Smc5/6's role in organizing transcription-induced positive DNA supercoils by initiating loop extrusion at cohesin-dependent boundaries.