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Chiasma formation: chromatin/axis interplay and the role(s) of the synaptonemal complex

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Abstract

Meiotic recombination proceeds in biochemical complexes that are physically associated with underlying chromosome structural axes. In this study, we discuss the organizational basis for these axes, the timing and nature of recombinosome/axis organization with respect to the prophase program of DNA and to structural changes, and the possible significance of axis organization. Furthermore, we discuss implications and extensions of our recently proposed mechanical model for chiasma formation. Finally, we give a broader consideration to past and present models for the role of the synaptonemal complex.

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Notes

  1. It has been proposed that the relationship of DNA events to cytological stages might be different in Drosophila from that described above as the general case. Specifically, it has been suggested that DSBs occur after SC formation (McKim et al. 2002). The primary direct evidence for this view is that gamma-H2AX foci, which mark the sites of both mitotic and meiotic DSBs, can be observed only at pachytene. However, this finding would imply only that SCs form very rapidly after DSB formation, e.g., with little or no “bridge stage.” Alternatively, gamma-H2AX foci have recently been reported also to occur during the pachytene stage in grasshopper (Viera et al. 2004) as a second wave, separate from the late leptotene wave. This raises the additional possibility that, for some reason, only the later foci are detected in Drosophila, thus leading to mistiming of DSB formation.

Abbreviations

L:

leptotene

Z:

zygotene

P:

pachytene

EP:

early pachytene

MP:

middle pachytene

LP:

late pachytene

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (USA) grants GM25326 and GM44794. The author is grateful for ideas and comments from Denise Zickler, Gareth H. Jones and members of the Kleckner lab, and for manuscript help from Jim Henle.

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  1. Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Nancy Kleckner

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  1. Nancy Kleckner
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Correspondence to Nancy Kleckner.

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Communicated by R. Benavente

The synaptonemal complex—50 years

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Table 1 Calculation of loop densities along pachytene SCs, Denise Zickler, Ruth Padmore and Nancy Kleckner
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Kleckner, N. Chiasma formation: chromatin/axis interplay and the role(s) of the synaptonemal complex. Chromosoma 115, 175–194 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-006-0055-7

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