PCNA promotes context-specific sister chromatid cohesion establishment separate from that of chromatin condensation

Cellular genomes undergo various structural changes that include <i>cis</i> tethering (the tethering together of two loci within a single DNA molecule), which promotes chromosome condensation and transcriptional activation, and <i>trans</i> tethering (the tethering together of two DNA molecules), which promotes sister chromatid cohesion and DNA repair. The protein complex termed cohesin promotes both <i>cis</i> and <i>trans</i> forms of DNA tethering, but the extent to which these cohesin functions occur in temporally or spatially defined contexts remains largely unknown. Prior studies indicate that DNA polymerase sliding clamp PCNA recruits cohesin acetyltransferase Eco1, suggesting that sister chromatid cohesion is established in the context of the DNA replication fork. In support of this model, elevated levels of PCNA rescue the temperature growth and cohesion defects exhibited by <i>eco1</i> mutant cells. Here, we test whether Eco1-dependent chromatin condensation is also promoted in the context of this DNA replication fork component. Our results reveal that overexpressed PCNA does not promote DNA condensation in <i>eco1</i> mutant cells, even though Smc3 acetylation levels are increased. We further provide evidence that replication fork-associated E3 ligase impacts on Eco1 are more complex that previously described. In combination, the data suggests that Eco1 acetylates Smc3 and thus promotes sister chromatid cohesion in context of the DNA replication fork, whereas a distinct cohesin population participates in chromatin condensation outside the context of the DNA replication fork.