scholarly journals Modelling sex-specific crossover patterning in Arabidopsis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Lloyd ◽  
Eric Jenczewski

ABSTRACTInterference is a major force governing the patterning of meiotic crossovers. A leading model describing how interference influences crossover-patterning is the beam film model, a mechanical model based on the accumulation and redistribution of crossover-promoting stress along the chromosome axis. We use the beam-film model in conjunction with a large Arabidopsis reciprocal back-cross data set to gain mechanistic insights into the differences between male and female meiosis and crossover patterning. Beam-film modelling suggests that the underlying mechanics of crossover patterning and interference are identical in the two sexes, with the large difference in recombination rates and distributions able to be entirely explained by the shorter chromosome axes in females. The modelling supports previous indications that fewer crossovers occur via the class II pathway in female meiosis and that this could be explained by reduced DNA double strand breaks in female meiosis, paralleling the observed reduction in synaptonemal complex length between the two sexes. We also demonstrate that changes in the strength of suppression of neighboring class I crossovers can have opposite effects on effective interference depending on the distance between two genetic intervals.

Genetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 211 (3) ◽  
pp. 847-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Lloyd ◽  
Eric Jenczewski

“Interference” is a major force governing the patterning of meiotic crossovers. A leading model describing how interference influences crossover patterning is the beam-film model, a mechanical model based on the accumulation and redistribution of crossover-promoting “stress” along the chromosome axis. We use the beam-film model in conjunction with a large Arabidopsis reciprocal backcross data set to gain “mechanistic” insights into the differences between male and female meiosis, and crossover patterning. Beam-film modeling suggests that the underlying mechanics of crossover patterning and interference are identical in the two sexes, with the large difference in recombination rates and distributions able to be entirely explained by the shorter chromosome axes in females. The modeling supports previous indications that fewer crossovers occur via the class II pathway in female meiosis and that this could be explained by reduced DNA double-strand breaks in female meiosis, paralleling the observed reduction in synaptonemal complex length between the two sexes. We also demonstrate that changes in the strength of suppression of neighboring class I crossovers can have opposite effects on “effective” interference depending on the distance between two genetic intervals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2679
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Takuya Suzuki ◽  
Ke Li ◽  
Santosh K. Gothwal ◽  
Miki Shinohara ◽  
...  

Homologous recombination is essential for chromosome segregation during meiosis I. Meiotic recombination is initiated by the introduction of double-strand breaks (DSBs) at specific genomic locations called hotspots, which are catalyzed by Spo11 and its partners. DSB hotspots during meiosis are marked with Set1-mediated histone H3K4 methylation. The Spo11 partner complex, Rec114-Mer2-Mei4, essential for the DSB formation, localizes to the chromosome axes. For efficient DSB formation, a hotspot with histone H3K4 methylation on the chromatin loops is tethered to the chromosome axis through the H3K4 methylation reader protein, Spp1, on the axes, which interacts with Mer2. In this study, we found genetic interaction of mutants in a histone modification protein complex called PAF1C with the REC114 and MER2 in the DSB formation in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Namely, the paf1c mutations rtf1 and cdc73 showed synthetic defects in meiotic DSB formation only when combined with a wild-type-like tagged allele of either the REC114 or MER2. The synthetic defect of the tagged REC114 allele in the DSB formation was seen also with the set1, but not with spp1 deletion. These results suggest a novel role of histone modification machinery in DSB formation during meiosis, which is independent of Spp1-mediated loop-axis tethering.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2488-2488
Author(s):  
Anna Lena Illert ◽  
Cristina Antinozzi ◽  
Hiroyuki Kawaguchi ◽  
Michal Kulinski ◽  
Christine Klitzing ◽  
...  

Abstract Regulated oscillation of protein expression is an essential mechanism of cell cycle control. The SCF class of E3 ubiquitin ligases is involved in this process by targeting cell cycle regulatory proteins for degradation by the proteasome. We previously reported the cloning of NIPA (Nuclear Interaction Partner of ALK) in complex with constitutively active oncogenic fusions of ALK, which contributes to the development of lymphomas and sarcomas. Subsequently we characterized NIPA as a F-Box protein that defines an oscillating ubiquitin E3 ligase targeting nuclear cyclin B1 in interphase thus contributing to the timing of mitotic entry. Using a conditional knockout strategy we inactivated the gene encoding Nipa. Nipa-deficient animals are viable, but show a lower birth rate and a reduced body weight. Furthermore, Nipa-deficient males were sterile due to a block of spermatogenesis during meiotic prophase. Virtually no spermatocytes progress beyond a late-zygotene to early-pachytene stage and reach an aberrant stage, with synaptonemal complex disassembly and incomplete synapsis. Nipa-/- females are sub-fertile with an early and severe meiotic defect during embryogenesis with extensive apoptosis in early prophase (E13.5-E14.5). Here we report, that Nipa-/- meiocytes exhibit persistent cytological markers for DNA double strand break repair proteins (like DMC1, RAD51) in meiotic prophase with more than twice as many DMC1 foci as control animals. Kinetic analysis of the first wave of spermatogenesis showed increased DMC1/RAD51 foci in Nipa-/- cells as soon as early-pachynema cells appear (13-14 days post partum). Moreover, we show that Nipa deficiency does not lead to a defect in meiotic sex chromosome inactivation despite epithelial stage IV apoptosis. Nipa-deficient spermatocytes exhibit numerous abnormalities in staining of chromosome axis associated proteins (like SYCP3 and STAG3) indicating that chromosome axis defects were associated with compromised chromosome axis integrity leading to overt chromosome fragmentation. Further in vitro analyses with bleomycin treated MEFs displayed high pH2AX levels in cells lacking NIPA. Repair of DNA DSB seemed to be abolished in these cells as the pH2AX-level were sustained and still visible after 90 min of timecourse, where wildtype cells already repaired sides of DNA Damage. Consistent with these findings NIPA-deficient spleen cells showed compromised DNA Damage repair measured in a comet assay with a significantly longer olive tail moment in NIPA knockout cells under repair conditions. Taken together, the phenotype of Nipa-knockout mice is a definitive proof of the meiotic significance of NIPA and our results show a new, unsuspected role of NIPA in chromosome stability and the repair of DNA double strand breaks. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixi Xu ◽  
Dongyi Xu

Abstract Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is at a constant risk of damage from endogenous substances, environmental radiation, and chemical stressors. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) pose a significant threat to genomic integrity and cell survival. There are two major pathways for DSB repair: nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). The extent of DNA end resection, which determines the length of the 3′ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) overhang, is the primary factor that determines whether repair is carried out via NHEJ or HR. NHEJ, which does not require a 3′ ssDNA tail, occurs throughout the cell cycle. 53BP1 and the cofactors PTIP or RIF1-shieldin protect the broken DNA end, inhibit long-range end resection and thus promote NHEJ. In contrast, HR mainly occurs during the S/G2 phase and requires DNA end processing to create a 3′ tail that can invade a homologous region, ensuring faithful gene repair. BRCA1 and the cofactors CtIP, EXO1, BLM/DNA2, and the MRE11–RAD50–NBS1 (MRN) complex promote DNA end resection and thus HR. DNA resection is influenced by the cell cycle, the chromatin environment, and the complexity of the DNA end break. Herein, we summarize the key factors involved in repair pathway selection for DSBs and discuss recent related publications.


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