scholarly journals Tex19.1 Regulates Meiotic DNA Double Strand Break Frequency in Mouse Spermatocytes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Crichton ◽  
Christopher J. Playfoot ◽  
Marie MacLennan ◽  
David Read ◽  
Howard J. Cooke ◽  
...  

AbstractMeiosis relies on the SPO11 endonuclease to generate the recombinogenic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) required for homologous chromosome synapsis and segregation. The number of meiotic DSBs needs to be sufficient to allow chromosomes to search for and find their homologs, but not excessive to the point of causing genome instability. Here we report that meiotic DSB frequency in mouse spermatocytes is regulated by the mammal-specific gene Tex19.1. We show that the chromosome asynapsis previously reported in Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes is preceded by reduced numbers of recombination foci in leptotene and zygotene. Tex19.1 is required for the generation of normal levels of Spo11-dependent DNA damage during leptotene, but not for upstream events such as MEI4 foci formation or accumulation of H3K4me3 at recombination hotspots. Furthermore, we show that mice carrying mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR2, a TEX19.1-interacting partner, phenocopy the Tex19.1-/- recombination defects. These data show that Tex19.1 and Ubr2 are required for mouse spermatocytes to generate sufficient meiotic DSBs to ensure that homology search is consistently successful, and reveal a hitherto unknown genetic pathway regulating meiotic DSB frequency in mammals.Author SummaryMeiosis is a specialised type of cell division that occurs during sperm and egg development to reduce chromosome number prior to fertilisation. Recombination is a key step in meiosis as it facilitates the pairing of homologous chromosomes prior to their reductional division, and generates new combinations of genetic alleles for transmission in the next generation. Regulating the amount of recombination is key for successful meiosis: too much will likely cause mutations, chromosomal re-arrangements and genetic instability, whereas too little causes defects in homologous chromosome pairing prior to the meiotic divisions. This study identifies a genetic pathway requiredto generate robust meiotic recombination in mouse spermatocytes. We show that male mice with mutations in Tex19.1 or Ubr2, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase that interacts with TEX19.1, have defects in generating normal levels of meiotic recombination. We show that the defects in these mutants impact on the recombination process at the stage when programmed DNA double strand breaks are being made. This defect likely contributes to the chromosome synapsis and meiotic progression phenotypes previously described in these mutant mice. This study has implications for our understanding of how this fundamental aspect of genetics and inheritance is controlled.

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (10) ◽  
pp. 2437-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heïdi Serra ◽  
Christophe Lambing ◽  
Catherine H. Griffin ◽  
Stephanie D. Topp ◽  
Divyashree C. Nageswaran ◽  
...  

During meiosis, homologous chromosomes undergo reciprocal crossovers, which generate genetic diversity and underpin classical crop improvement. Meiotic recombination initiates from DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are processed into single-stranded DNA that can invade a homologous chromosome. The resulting joint molecules can ultimately be resolved as crossovers. In Arabidopsis, competing pathways balance the repair of ∼100–200 meiotic DSBs into ∼10 crossovers per meiosis, with the excess DSBs repaired as noncrossovers. To bias DSB repair toward crossovers, we simultaneously increased dosage of the procrossover E3 ligase gene HEI10 and introduced mutations in the anticrossovers helicase genes RECQ4A and RECQ4B. As HEI10 and recq4a recq4b increase interfering and noninterfering crossover pathways, respectively, they combine additively to yield a massive meiotic recombination increase. Interestingly, we also show that increased HEI10 dosage increases crossover coincidence, which indicates an effect on interference. We also show that patterns of interhomolog polymorphism and heterochromatin drive recombination increases distally towards the subtelomeres in both HEI10 and recq4a recq4b backgrounds, while the centromeres remain crossover suppressed. These results provide a genetic framework for engineering meiotic recombination landscapes in plant genomes.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heïdi Serra ◽  
Christophe Lambing ◽  
Catherine H. Griffin ◽  
Stephanie D. Topp ◽  
Mathilde Séguéla-Arnaud ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring meiosis homologous chromosomes undergo reciprocal crossovers, which generate genetic diversity and underpin classical crop improvement. Meiotic recombination initiates from DNA double strand breaks, which are processed into single-stranded DNA that can invade a homologous chromosome. The resulting joint molecules can ultimately be resolved as crossovers. In Arabidopsis, competing pathways balance the repair of ∼100–200 meiotic DSBs into ∼10 crossovers per meiosis, with the excess DSBs repaired as non-crossovers. In order to bias DSB repair towards crossovers, we simultaneously increased dosage of the pro-crossover E3 ligase gene HEI10 and introduced mutations in the anti-crossover helicase genes RECQ4A and RECQ4B. As HEI10 and recq4a recq4b increase interfering and non-interfering crossover pathways respectively, they combine additively to yield a massive meiotic recombination increase. Interestingly, we also show that increased HEI10 dosage increases crossover coincidence, which indicates an effect of HEI10 on interference. We also show that patterns of interhomolog polymorphism and heterochromatin drive recombination increases towards the sub-telomeres in both HEI10 and recq4a recq4b backgrounds, while the centromeres remain crossover-suppressed. These results provide a genetic framework for engineering meiotic recombination landscapes in plant genomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1200-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainhoa Nieto ◽  
Makoto R. Hara ◽  
Victor Quereda ◽  
Wayne Grant ◽  
Vanessa Saunders ◽  
...  

Abstract Cellular DNA is constantly under threat from internal and external insults, consequently multiple pathways have evolved to maintain chromosomal fidelity. Our previous studies revealed that chronic stress, mediated by continuous stimulation of the β2-adrenergic-βarrestin-1 signaling axis suppresses activity of the tumor suppressor p53 and impairs genomic integrity. In this pathway, βarrestin-1 (βarr1) acts as a molecular scaffold to promote the binding and degradation of p53 by the E3-ubiquitin ligase, MDM2. We sought to determine whether βarr1 plays additional roles in the repair of DNA damage. Here we demonstrate that in mice βarr1 interacts with p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) with major consequences for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. 53BP1 is a principle component of the DNA damage response, and when recruited to the site of double-strand breaks in DNA, 53BP1 plays an important role coordinating repair of these toxic lesions. Here, we report that βarr1 directs 53BP1 degradation by acting as a scaffold for the E3-ubiquitin ligase Rad18. Consequently, knockdown of βarr1 stabilizes 53BP1 augmenting the number of 53BP1 DNA damage repair foci following exposure to ionizing radiation. Accordingly, βarr1 loss leads to a marked increase in irradiation resistance both in cells and in vivo. Thus, βarr1 is an important regulator of double strand break repair, and disruption of the βarr1/53BP1 interaction offers an attractive strategy to protect cells against high levels of exposure to ionizing radiation.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarai Pacheco ◽  
Andros Maldonado-Linares ◽  
Marina Marcet-Ortega ◽  
Cristina Rojas ◽  
Ana Martínez-Marchal ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTPrecise execution of recombination during meiosis is essential for forming chromosomally balanced gametes. Meiotic recombination initiates with the formation and resection of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Binding of replication protein A (RPA) at resected DSBs fosters association of RAD51 and DMC1, the primary effectors of homology search. It is well appreciated that cellular responses to meiotic DSBs are critical for efficient repair and quality control, but molecular features of these responses remain poorly understood, particularly in mammals. Here we provide evidence that the DNA damage response protein kinase ATR is crucial for meiotic recombination and completion of meiotic prophase in mice. Using a hypomorphic Atr mutation and pharmacological inhibition of ATR in vivo and in cultured spermatocytes, we show that ATR, through its effector kinase CHK1, promotes efficient RAD51 and DMC1 assembly at RPA-coated DSB sites and establishment of interhomolog connections during meiosis. Furthermore, our findings suggest that ATR promotes local accumulation of recombination markers on unsynapsed axes during meiotic prophase to favor homologous chromosome synapsis. These data reveal that ATR plays multiple roles in mammalian meiotic recombination.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talia Hatkevich ◽  
Danny E. Miller ◽  
Carolyn A. Turcotte ◽  
Margaret C. Miller ◽  
Jeff Sekelsky

ABSTRACTProgrammed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) made during meiosis are repaired by recombination with the homologous chromosome to generate, at selected sites, reciprocal crossovers that are critical for the proper separation of homologs in the first meiotic divisions. Backup repair processes can compensate when the normal meiotic recombination processes are non-functional. We describe a novel backup repair mechanism that occurs when the homologous chromosome is not available in Drosophila melanogaster meiosis. In the presence of a previously described mutation (Mcm5A7) that disrupts chromosome pairing, DSB repair is initiated by homologous recombination but is completed by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Remarkably, this process yields precise repair products. Our results provide support for a recombination intermediate recently discovered in mouse meiosis, in which an oligonucleotide bound to the Spo11 protein that catalyzes DSB formation remains bound after resection. We propose that this oligonucleotide functions as a primer for fill-in synthesis to allow scarless repair by NHEJ.


Author(s):  
Jacob Paiano ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Shintaro Yamada ◽  
Nicholas Sciascia ◽  
Elsa Callen ◽  
...  

AbstractMeiotic recombination is initiated by genome-wide SPO11-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) that are processed by MRE11-mediated release of SPO11. The DSB is then resected and loaded with DMC1/RAD51 filaments that invade homologous chromosome templates. In most mammals, DSB locations (“hotspots”) are determined by the DNA sequence specificity of PRDM9. Here, we demonstrate the first direct detection of meiotic DSBs and resection in vertebrates by performing END-seq on mouse spermatocytes using low sample input. We find that DMC1 limits both the minimum and maximum lengths of resected DNA, whereas 53BP1, BRCA1 and EXO1 play surprisingly minimal roles in meiotic resection. Through enzymatic modifications to the END-seq protocol that mimic the in vivo processing of SPO11, we identify a novel meiotic recombination intermediate (“SPO11-RI”) present at all hotspots. The SPO11-bound intermediate is dependent on PRDM9 and caps the 3’ resected end during engagement with the homologous template. We propose that SPO11-RI is generated because chromatin-bound PRDM9 asymmetrically blocks MRE11 from releasing SPO11. In Atm−/− spermatocytes, SPO11-RI is reduced while unresected DNA-bound SPO11 accumulate because of defective MRE11 initiation. Thus in addition to their global roles in governing SPO11 breakage, ATM and PRDM9 are critical local regulators of mammalian SPO11 processing.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Lambing ◽  
Andrew J. Tock ◽  
Kyuha Choi ◽  
Stephanie D. Topp ◽  
Pallas C. Kuo ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring meiosis chromosomes undergo DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that can be repaired using a homolog to produce crossovers, which creates genetic diversity. Meiotic recombination occurs coincident with homolog pairing and polymerization of the meiotic axis and synaptonemal complex (SC). REC8-cohesin is required to connect chromosomes to the axis and to organize axis polymerization. However, control of REC8 loading along chromosomes, in relation to chromatin, transcription and recombination, is not yet fully understood. Therefore, we performed REC8 ChIP-seq in Arabidopsis, which revealed strong enrichment in centromeric heterochromatin. REC8 abundance correlates with suppression of meiotic DSBs and crossovers, despite axis loading of SPO11-1 in these regions. Loss of the heterochromatic marks H3K9me2 and non-CG DNA methylation in kyp/suvh4 suvh5 suvh6 mutants causes remodeling of REC8 and gain of meiotic recombination locally in repeated sequences, although centromere cohesion is maintained. In the chromosome arms, REC8 is enriched within gene bodies, exons and GC-rich sequences, and anti-correlates with transcription. Highest REC8 occupancy occurred in facultatively silent, H3K27me3-modified genes. Using immunocytology we show that axis polycomplexes form in rec8 mutants that recruit recombination foci with altered stoichiometry, leading to catastrophic non-homologous recombination. Therefore, REC8 plays a key role organizing meiotic chromosome architecture and promoting high-fidelity interhomolog recombination. Despite this pro-recombination role, local REC8 enrichment associates with DSB repression at the fine scale, which is consistent with the tethered-loop/axis model. Coincident with its organizational role during meiosis, REC8-cohesin occupancy along the chromosomes is shaped by multiple chromatin states and transcription.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles J. Underwood ◽  
Kyuha Choi ◽  
Christophe Lambing ◽  
Xiaohui Zhao ◽  
Heïdi Serra ◽  
...  

AbstractEukaryotic centromeres contain the kinetochore, which connects chromosomes to the spindle allowing segregation. During meiosis centromeres are suppressed for crossovers, as recombination in these regions can cause chromosome mis-segregation. Plant centromeres are surrounded by repetitive, transposon-dense heterochromatin that is epigenetically silenced by histone 3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), and DNA methylation in CG and non-CG sequence contexts. Here we show that disruption of Arabidopsis H3K9me2 and non-CG DNA methylation pathways increases meiotic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) within centromeres, whereas crossovers increase within pericentromeric heterochromatin. Increased pericentromeric crossovers in H3K9me2/non-CG mutants occurs in both inbred and hybrid backgrounds, and involves the interfering crossover repair pathway. Epigenetic activation of recombination may also account for the curious tendency of maize transposon Ds to disrupt CHROMOMETHYLASE3 when launched from proximal loci. Thus H3K9me2 and non-CG DNA methylation exert differential control of meiotic DSB and crossover formation in centromeric and pericentromeric heterochromatin.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Nore ◽  
Ariadna B Juarez-Martinez ◽  
Julie AJ Clement ◽  
Christine Brun ◽  
Bouboub Diagouraga ◽  
...  

Meiosis requires the formation of programmed DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), essential for fertility and for generating genetic diversity. In male and female meiotic cells, DSBs are induced by the catalytic activity of the TOPOVIL complex formed by SPO11 and TOPOVIBL. To ensure genomic integrity, DNA cleavage activity is tightly regulated, and several accessory factors (REC114, MEI4, IHO1, and MEI1) are needed for DSB formation in mice. How and when these proteins act is not understood. Here, we show that REC114 is a direct partner of TOPOVIBL, and identified their conserved interacting domains by structural analysis. We then analysed the role of this interaction by monitoring meiotic DSBs in female and male mice carrying point mutations in TOPOVIBL that decrease or disrupt its binding to REC114. In these mutants, DSB activity was strongly reduced genome-wide in oocytes, but only in sub-telomeric regions in spermatocytes. In addition, in mutant spermatocytes, DSB activity was delayed in autosomes. These results provide evidence that REC114 is a key member of the TOPOVIL catalytic complex, and that the REC114/TOPOVIBL interaction ensures the efficiency and timing of DSB activity by integrating specific chromosomal features.


Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 355 (6320) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni P. Mimitou ◽  
Shintaro Yamada ◽  
Scott Keeney

DNA double-strand breaks that initiate meiotic recombination are exonucleolytically processed. This 5′→3′ resection is a central, conserved feature of recombination but remains poorly understood. To address this lack, we mapped resection endpoints genome-wide at high resolution inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Full-length resection requires Exo1 exonuclease and the DSB-responsive kinase Tel1, but not Sgs1 helicase. Tel1 also promotes efficient and timely resection initiation. Resection endpoints display pronounced heterogeneity between genomic loci that reflects a tendency for nucleosomes to block Exo1, yet Exo1 also appears to digest chromatin with high processivity and at rates similar to naked DNA in vitro. This paradox points to nucleosome destabilization or eviction as a defining feature of the meiotic resection landscape.


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