Analikwu et al. show that dense linear arrays of the telomeric protein Rap1 on DNA block DNA loop extrusion by condensin. Rap1-induced stalling depends on array length and protein density and leads to a local chromatin decompaction during anaphase, revealing how protein arrays can regulate SMC-driven genome organization.

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All eukaryotic SMC motor proteins extrude DNA asymmetrically but may undergo direction switches, suggesting a common loop extrusion mechanism among all eukaryotic SMC proteins while permitting bidirec...