Condensins-mediated mitotic folding persists as a structural echo in interphase chromatin.

Condensin I depletion in mouse embryonic stem cell lines weakens segregation of chromatin into A and B compartments, linking condensin I to interphase compartment organization.

• Why it matters: Condensins are known for mitotic chromosome condensation, but their specific contribution to interphase contact architecture and compartmentalization remains unclear.
• What they did: Using Hi-C in mouse embryonic stem cell lines with auxin-inducible degron-tagged SMC subunits, the study depleted condensin I or II and compared interphase contact patterns to mitosis.
• The result: Mitotic condensin-established contact patterns are preserved in interphase, and condensin II can drive large, randomly positioned interphase loops after cohesin depletion without disrupting cohesin-dependent TADs and loops.