Symmetry of loop extrusion by dimeric SMC complexes is DNA-tension-dependent

Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) complexes organize and regulate genomes via DNA loop extrusion. During this process, the complexes increase the loop size by reeling in DNA from one or both sides of the loop. The factors governing this symmetry remain unclear. Here, we combine single-molecule analysis and molecular dynamic simulations to investigate the symmetry of loop extrusion of various SMC complexes. We find that whereas monomeric condensin and cohesin are one-sided extruders, the symmetry of dimeric SMCs, such as Smc5/6 and Wadjet, is DNA tension dependent. At low DNA tension (< 0.1pN), Smc5/6 and Wadjet extrude DNA from both sides of the loop. At higher tension, however, they transition to a behavior akin to one-sided extruders, yet still capable of extruding from one or the other side thereby switching the direction of extrusion. Our simulations further reveal that thermal fluctuations significantly influence loop extrusion symmetry, causing variations in DNA reeling rates between the two motors in the dimeric complexes and their direction switching at stalling tensions. Our findings challenge the previous view of loop extrusion symmetry as a fixed characteristic, revealing its dynamic nature and regulation by both intrinsic protein properties and extrinsic factors.