Sgo1 is required for co-segregation of sister chromatids during achiasmate meiosis I

The reduction of chromosome number during meiosis is achieved by two successive rounds of chromosome segregation, called meiosis I and meiosis II. While meiosis II is similar to mitosis in that sister kinetochores are bi-oriented and segregate to opposite poles, recombined homologous chromosomes segregate during the first meiotic division. Formation of chiasmata, mono-orientation of sister kinetochores and protection of centromeric cohesion are three major features of meiosis I chromosomes which ensure the reductional nature of chromosome segregation. Here we show that sister chromatids frequently segregate to opposite poles during meiosis I in fission yeast cells that lack both chiasmata and the protector of centromeric cohesion Sgo1. Our data are consistent with the notion that sister kinetochores are frequently bi-oriented in the absence of chiasmata and that Sgo1 prevents equational segregation of sister chromatids during achiasmate meiosis I.Key words: meiosis, chromosome segregation, recombination, kinetochore, Sgo1, fission yeast     

Sgo1 is required for co-segregation of sister chromatids during achiasmate meiosis I

The reduction of chromosome number during meiosis is achieved by two successive rounds of chromosome segregation, called meiosis I and meiosis II. While meiosis II is similar to mitosis in that sister kinetochores are bi-oriented and segregate to opposite poles, recombined homologous chromosomes segregate during the first meiotic division. Formation of chiasmata, mono-orientation of sister kinetochores and protection of centromeric cohesion are three major features of meiosis I chromosomes which ensure the reductional nature of chromosome segregation. Here we show that sister chromatids frequently segregate to opposite poles during meiosis I in fission yeast cells that lack both chiasmata and the protector of centromeric cohesion Sgo1. Our data are consistent with the notion that sister kinetochores are frequently bi-oriented in the absence of chiasmata and that Sgo1 prevents equational segregation of sister chromatids during achiasmate meiosis I.     

Absence of mouse REC8 cohesin promotes synapsis of sister chromatids in meiosis

REC8 is a key component of the meiotic cohesin complex. During meiosis, cohesin is required for the establishment and maintenance of sister-chromatid cohesion, for the formation of the synaptonemal complex, and for recombination between homologous chromosomes. We show that REC8 has an essential role in mammalian meiosis, in that Rec8 null mice of both sexes have germ cell failure and are sterile. In the absence of REC8, early chromosome pairing events appear normal, but synapsis occurs in a novel fashion: between sister chromatids. This implies that a major role for REC8 in mammalian meiosis is to limit synapsis to between homologous chromosomes. In all other eukaryotic species studied to date, REC8 phenotypes have been restricted to meiosis. Unexpectedly, Rec8 null mice are born in sub-Mendelian frequencies and fail to thrive. These findings illuminate hitherto unknown REC8 functions in chromosome dynamics during mammalian meiosis and possibly in somatic development.     

A family of zinc-finger proteins is required for chromosome-specific pairing and synapsis during meiosis in C. elegans

Homologous chromosome pairing and synapsis are prerequisite for accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis. Here, we show that a family of four related C2H2 zinc-finger proteins plays a central role in these events in C. elegans. These proteins are encoded within a tandem gene cluster. In addition to the X-specific HIM-8 protein, three additional paralogs collectively mediate the behavior of the five autosomes. Each chromosome relies on a specific member of the family to pair and synapse with its homolog. These "ZIM" proteins concentrate at special regions called meiotic pairing centers on the corresponding chromosomes. These sites are dispersed along the nuclear envelope during early meiotic prophase, suggesting a role analogous to the telomere-mediated meiotic bouquet in other organisms. To gain insight into the evolution of these components, we characterized homologs in C. briggsae and C. remanei, which revealed changes in copy number of this gene family within the nematode lineage.     

Mek1 kinase is regulated to suppress double-strand break repair between sister chromatids during budding yeast meiosis

Mek1 is a meiosis-specific kinase in budding yeast which promotes recombination between homologous chromosomes by suppressing double-strand break (DSB) repair between sister chromatids. Previous work has shown that in the absence of the meiosis-specific recombinase gene, DMC1, cells arrest in prophase due to unrepaired DSBs and that Mek1 kinase activity is required in this situation to prevent repair of the breaks using sister chromatids. This work demonstrates that Mek1 is activated in response to DSBs by autophosphorylation of two conserved threonines, T327 and T331, in the Mek1 activation loop. Using a version of Mek1 that can be conditionally dimerized during meiosis, Mek1 function was shown to be promoted by dimerization, perhaps as a way of enabling autophosphorylation of the activation loop in trans. A putative HOP1-dependent dimerization domain within the C terminus of Mek1 has been identified. Dimerization alone, however, is insufficient for activation, as DSBs and Mek1 recruitment to the meiosis-specific chromosomal core protein Red1 are also necessary. Phosphorylation of S320 in the activation loop inhibits sister chromatid repair specifically in dmc1Delta-arrested cells. Ectopic dimerization of Mek1 bypasses the requirement for S320 phosphorylation, suggesting this phosphorylation is necessary for maintenance of Mek1 dimers during checkpoint-induced arrest.     

Budding yeast PDS5 plays an important role in meiosis and is required for sister chromatid cohesion

Budding yeast PDS5 is an essential gene in mitosis and is required for chromosome condensation and sister chromatid cohesion. Here we report that PDS also is required in meiosis. Pds5p localizes on chromosomes at all stages during meiotic cycle, except anaphase I. PDS5 plays an important role at first meiotic prophase. Failure in function of PDS5 causes premature separation of chromosomes. The loading of Pds5p onto chromosome requires the function of REC8, but the association of Rec8p with chromosome is independent of PDS5. Mutant analysis and live cell imaging indicate that PDS5 play a role in meiosis II as well.     

AtMND1 is required for homologous pairing during meiosis in Arabidopsis

Background  

Pairing of homologous chromosomes at meiosis is an important requirement for recombination and balanced chromosome segregation among the products of meiotic division. Recombination is initiated by double strand breaks (DSBs) made by Spo11 followed by interaction of DSB sites with a homologous chromosome. This interaction requires the strand exchange proteins Rad51 and Dmc1 that bind to single stranded regions created by resection of ends at the site of DSBs and promote interactions with uncut DNA on the homologous partner. Recombination is also considered to be dependent on factors that stabilize interactions between homologous chromosomes. In budding yeast Hop2 and Mnd1 act as a complex to promote homologous pairing and recombination in conjunction with Rad51 and Dmc1.     

The Caenorhabditis elegans SCC-3 homologue is required for meiotic synapsis and for proper chromosome disjunction in mitosis and meiosis

The product of the Caenorhabditis elegans ORF F18E2.3 is homologous to the cohesin component Scc3p. By antibody staining the product of F18E2.3 is found in interphase and early meiotic nuclei. At pachytene it localizes to the axes of meiotic chromosomes but is no longer detectable on chromatin later in meiosis or in mitoses. Depletion of the gene product by RNAi results in aberrant mitoses and meioses. In meiosis, homologous pairing is defective during early meiotic prophase and at diakinesis there occur univalents consisting of loosely connected sister chromatids or completely separated sisters. The recombination protein RAD-51 accumulates in nuclear foci at higher numbers during meiotic prophase and disappears later than in wild-type worms, suggesting a defect in the repair of meiotic double-stranded DNA breaks. Embryos showing nuclei of variable size and anaphase bridges, indicative of mitotic segregation defects, are frequently observed. In the most severely affected gonads, nuclear morphology cannot be related to any specific stage. The cytological localization and the consequences of the lack of the protein indicate that C. elegans SCC-3 is essential for sister chromatid cohesion both in mitosis and in meiosis.     

Mouse SYCP2 is required for synaptonemal complex assembly and chromosomal synapsis during male meiosis

During meiosis, the arrangement of homologous chromosomes is tightly regulated by the synaptonemal complex (SC). Each SC consists of two axial/lateral elements (AEs/LEs), and numerous transverse filaments. SC protein 2 (SYCP2) and SYCP3 are integral components of AEs/LEs in mammals. We find that SYCP2 forms heterodimers with SYCP3 both in vitro and in vivo. An evolutionarily conserved coiled coil domain in SYCP2 is required for binding to SYCP3. We generated a mutant Sycp2 allele in mice that lacks the coiled coil domain. The fertility of homozygous Sycp2 mutant mice is sexually dimorphic; males are sterile because of a block in meiosis, whereas females are subfertile with sharply reduced litter size. Sycp2 mutant spermatocytes exhibit failure in the formation of AEs and chromosomal synapsis. Strikingly, the mutant SYCP2 protein localizes to axial chromosomal cores in both spermatocytes and fetal oocytes, but SYCP3 does not, demonstrating that SYCP2 is a primary determinant of AEs/LEs and, thus, is required for the incorporation of SYCP3 into SCs.     

MRE11 is required for homologous synapsis and DSB processing in rice meiosis

Mre11, a conserved protein found in organisms ranging from yeast to multicellular organisms, is required for normal meiotic recombination. Mre11 interacts with Rad50 and Nbs1/Xrs2 to form a complex (MRN/X) that participates in double-strand break (DSB) ends processing. In this study, we silenced the MRE11 gene in rice and detailed its function using molecular and cytological methods. The OsMRE11-deficient plants exhibited normal vegetative growth but could not set seed. Cytological analysis indicated that in the OsMRE11-deficient plants, homologous pairing was totally inhibited, and the chromosomes were completely entangled as a formation of multivalents at metaphase I, leading to the consequence of serious chromosome fragmentation during anaphase I. Immunofluorescence studies further demonstrated that OsMRE11 is required for homologous synapsis and DSB processing but is dispensable for meiotic DSB formation. We found that OsMRE11 protein was located on meiotic chromosomes from interphase to late pachytene. This protein showed normal localization in zep1, Oscom1 and Osmer3, as well as in OsSPO11-1 ^RNAi plants, but not in pair2 and pair3 mutants. Taken together, our results provide evidence that OsMRE11 performs a function essential for maintaining the normal HR process and inhibiting non-homologous recombination during meiosis.     

植物减数分裂中的染色体配对、联会和重组研究进展

减数分裂是有性生殖的关键步骤,而染色体配对、联会和重组又是减数分裂的重要环节,也是减数分裂研究的热点之一。近些年来,借助于先进的分子生物学和细胞学技术,通过大量突变体的筛选,在植物减数分裂中染色体的配对、联会和重组研究取得了长足的进展。文章就目前克隆的植物减数分裂中染色体配对、联会和重组相关的基因及功能研究进行了总结,并进一步对其分子机制进行了探讨。     

Slk19p is necessary to prevent separation of sister chromatids in meiosis I

BACKGROUND: A fundamental difference between meiotic and mitotic chromosome segregation is that in meiosis I, sister chromatids remain joined, moving as a unit to one pole of the spindle rather than separating as they do in mitosis. It has long been known that the sustained linkage of sister chromatids through meiotic anaphase I is accomplished by association of the chromatids at the centromere region. The localization of the cohesin Rec8p to the centromeres is essential for maintenance of sister chromatid cohesion through meiosis I, but the molecular basis for the regulation of Rec8p and sister kinetochores in meiosis remains a mystery. RESULTS: We show that the SLK19 gene product from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for proper chromosome segregation during meiosis I. When slk19 mutants were induced to sporulate they completed events characteristic of meiotic prophase I, but at the first meiotic division they segregated their sister chromatids to opposite poles at high frequencies. The vast majority of these cells did not perform a second meiotic division and proceeded to form dyads (asci containing two spores). Slk19p was found to localize to centromere regions of chromosomes during meiotic prophase where it remained until anaphase I. In the absence of Slk19p, Rec8p was not maintained at the centromere region through anaphase I as it is in wild-type cells. Finally, we demonstrate that Slk19p appears to function downstream of the meiosis-specific protein Spo13p in control of sister chromatid behavior during meiosis I. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Slk19p is essential at the centromere of meiotic chromosomes to prevent the premature separation of sister chromatids at meiosis I.     

Genetic control of chromosome synapsis in yeast meiosis

Both meiosis-specific and general recombination functions, recruited from the mitotic cell cycle, are required for elevated levels of recombination and for chromosome synapsis (assembly of the synaptonemal complex) during yeast meiosis. The meiosis-specific SPO11 gene (previously shown to be required for meiotic recombination) has been isolated and shown to be essential for synaptonemal complex formation but not for DNA metabolism during the vegetative cell cycle. In contrast, the RAD52 gene is required for mitotic and meiotic recombination but not for synaptonemal complex assembly. These data suggest that the synaptonemal complex may be necessary but is clearly not sufficient for meiotic recombination. Cytological analysis of spread meiotic nuclei demonstrates that chromosome behavior in yeast is comparable with that observed in larger eukaryotes. These spread preparations support the immunocytological localization of specific proteins in meiotic nuclei. This combination of genetic, molecular cloning, and cytological approaches in a single experimental system provides a means of addressing the role of specific gene products and nuclear structures in meiotic chromosome behavior.     

MER1, a yeast gene required for chromosome pairing and genetic recombination, is induced in meiosis.

The yeast MER1 gene is required for the production of viable meiotic products and for meiotic recombination. Cytological analysis of chromosome spreads from a mer1 mutant indicates that the MER1 gene product is also required for normal chromosome pairing. mer1 strains make axial elements, precursors to the synaptonemal complex; however, the chromosomes in most nuclei do not become fully synapsed. The DNA sequence of the MER1 coding region was determined; the MER1 open reading frame encodes a 270-amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of 31.1 kilodaltons. The MER1 protein shows limited sequence similarity to calmodulin. Expression of the MER1 gene was examined by RNA blot hybridization analysis and through the construction and analysis of mer1::lacZ fusion genes. Expression of the MER1 gene is meiotically induced and required the IME1 gene product. Thus, expression of the MER1 gene early in meiosis is required for proper chromosome pairing and meiotic recombination.     

Centromere-proximal crossovers are associated with precocious separation of sister chromatids during meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In most organisms, meiotic chromosome segregation is dependent on crossovers (COs), which enable pairs of homologous chromosomes to segregate to opposite poles at meiosis I. In mammals, the majority of meiotic chromosome segregation errors result from a lack of COs between homologs. Observations in Homo sapiens and Drosophila melanogaster have revealed a second class of exceptional events in which a CO occurred near the centromere of the missegregated chromosome. We show that in wild-type strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, most spore inviability is due to precocious separation of sister chromatids (PSSC) and that PSSC is often associated with centromere-proximal crossing over. COs, as opposed to nonreciprocal recombination events (NCOs), are preferentially associated with missegregation. Strains mutant for the RecQ homolog, SGS1, display reduced spore viability and increased crossing over. Much of the spore inviability in sgs1 results from PSSC, and these events are often associated with centromere-proximal COs, just as in wild type. When crossing over in sgs1 is reduced by the introduction of a nonnull allele of SPO11, spore viability is improved, suggesting that the increased PSSC is due to increased crossing over. We present a model for PSSC in which a centromere-proximal CO promotes local loss of sister-chromatid cohesion.     

Chiasmata promote monopolar attachment of sister chromatids and their co-segregation toward the proper pole during meiosis I

The chiasma is a structure that forms between a pair of homologous chromosomes by crossover recombination and physically links the homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Chiasmata are essential for the attachment of the homologous chromosomes to opposite spindle poles (bipolar attachment) and their subsequent segregation to the opposite poles during meiosis I. However, the overall function of chiasmata during meiosis is not fully understood. Here, we show that chiasmata also play a crucial role in the attachment of sister chromatids to the same spindle pole and in their co-segregation during meiosis I in fission yeast. Analysis of cells lacking chiasmata and the cohesin protector Sgo1 showed that loss of chiasmata causes frequent bipolar attachment of sister chromatids during anaphase. Furthermore, high time-resolution analysis of centromere dynamics in various types of chiasmate and achiasmate cells, including those lacking the DNA replication checkpoint factor Mrc1 or the meiotic centromere protein Moa1, showed the following three outcomes: (i) during the pre-anaphase stage, the bipolar attachment of sister chromatids occurs irrespective of chiasma formation; (ii) the chiasma contributes to the elimination of the pre-anaphase bipolar attachment; and (iii) when the bipolar attachment remains during anaphase, the chiasmata generate a bias toward the proper pole during poleward chromosome pulling that results in appropriate chromosome segregation. Based on these results, we propose that chiasmata play a pivotal role in the selection of proper attachments and provide a backup mechanism that promotes correct chromosome segregation when improper attachments remain during anaphase I.     

Centromere and telomere redistribution precedes homologue pairing and terminal synapsis initiation during prophase I of cattle spermatogenesis

Alterations in nuclear topology associated with meiotic chromosome pairing were studied in premeiotic cells and spermatocytes I of adult bovine males. To this end, we performed FISH with chromosome, pericentromeric satellite-DNA and telomere-specific probes in combination with immunostaining of synaptonemal complex proteins (SCP3, SCP1) on testis tissue sections. Nuclei of premeiotic cells (spermatogonia) exhibited a scattered telomere distribution while pericentromeres formed a few intranuclear clusters. We observed that the chromosome pairing process in cattle prophase I is preceded by repositioning of centromeres and telomeres to the nuclear periphery during preleptotene. Clustering of chromosome ends (bouquet formation) was observed during the transition from leptonema to zygonema and coincided with pairing of a sub-centromeric marker of bovine chromosomes 7. Dissolution of bouquet topology during zygonema left perinuclear telomeres scattered over the nuclear periphery at pachynema. SCP3 staining in frozen tissue sections revealed the appearance of this axial element protein in intranuclear aggregates during preleptotene, followed by extensive axial element formation during leptotene. Synapsis as revealed by SCP1 staining initiated peripherally at earliest zygotene, at this stage nuclei still contained numerous SCP3 clusters. Our observations reveal prominent non-homologous satellite-DNA associations in spermatogonia and indicate the conservation of topological features of the meiotic chromosome pairing process among mammals. The comparison of telomere dynamics in mouse and cattle prophase I suggests that a larger number of chromosomes prolongs the duration of the bouquet stage.