Csm4-dependent telomere movement on nuclear envelope promotes meiotic recombination

PLoS Genet. 2008 Sep 26;4(9):e1000196. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000196.

Abstract

During meiotic prophase, chromosomes display rapid movement, and their telomeres attach to the nuclear envelope and cluster to form a "chromosomal bouquet." Little is known about the roles of the chromosome movement and telomere clustering in this phase. In budding yeast, telomere clustering is promoted by a meiosis-specific, telomere-binding protein, Ndj1. Here, we show that a meiosis-specific protein, Csm4, which forms a complex with Ndj1, facilitates bouquet formation. In the absence of Csm4, Ndj1-bound telomeres tether to nuclear envelopes but do not cluster, suggesting that telomere clustering in the meiotic prophase consists of at least two distinct steps: Ndj1-dependent tethering to the nuclear envelope and Csm4-dependent clustering/movement. Similar to Ndj1, Csm4 is required for several distinct steps during meiotic recombination. Our results suggest that Csm4 promotes efficient second-end capture of a double-strand break following a homology search, as well as resolution of the double-Holliday junction during crossover formation. We propose that chromosome movement and associated telomere dynamics at the nuclear envelope promotes the completion of key biochemical steps during meiotic recombination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromosome Pairing
  • Meiosis*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Envelope / genetics
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Telomere / genetics*
  • Telomere / metabolism

Substances

  • CSM4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mps3 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Ndj1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins