1
|
De Jaeger-Braet J, Schnittger A. Heating up meiosis - Chromosome recombination and segregation under high temperatures. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 80:102548. [PMID: 38749207 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Heat stress is one of the major constraints to plant growth and fertility. During the current climate crisis, heat waves have increased dramatically, and even more extreme conditions are predicted for the near future, considerably affecting ecosystems and seriously threatening world food security. Although heat is very well known to affect especially reproductive structures, little is known about how heat interferes with reproduction in comparison to somatic cells and tissues. Recently, the effect of heat on meiosis as a central process in sexual reproduction has been analyzed in molecular and cytological depth. Notably, these studies are not only important for applied research by laying the foundation for breeding heat-resilient crops, but also for fundamental research, revealing general regulatory mechanisms of recombination and chromosome segregation control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joke De Jaeger-Braet
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arp Schnittger
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Johnston SE. Understanding the Genetic Basis of Variation in Meiotic Recombination: Past, Present, and Future. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae112. [PMID: 38959451 PMCID: PMC11221659 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Meiotic recombination is a fundamental feature of sexually reproducing species. It is often required for proper chromosome segregation and plays important role in adaptation and the maintenance of genetic diversity. The molecular mechanisms of recombination are remarkably conserved across eukaryotes, yet meiotic genes and proteins show substantial variation in their sequence and function, even between closely related species. Furthermore, the rate and distribution of recombination shows a huge diversity within and between chromosomes, individuals, sexes, populations, and species. This variation has implications for many molecular and evolutionary processes, yet how and why this diversity has evolved is not well understood. A key step in understanding trait evolution is to determine its genetic basis-that is, the number, effect sizes, and distribution of loci underpinning variation. In this perspective, I discuss past and current knowledge on the genetic basis of variation in recombination rate and distribution, explore its evolutionary implications, and present open questions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Johnston
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Joseph J, Prentout D, Laverré A, Tricou T, Duret L. High prevalence of PRDM9-independent recombination hotspots in placental mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401973121. [PMID: 38809707 PMCID: PMC11161765 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401973121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
In many mammals, recombination events are concentrated in hotspots directed by a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein named PRDM9. Intriguingly, PRDM9 has been lost several times in vertebrates, and notably among mammals, it has been pseudogenized in the ancestor of canids. In the absence of PRDM9, recombination hotspots tend to occur in promoter-like features such as CpG islands. It has thus been proposed that one role of PRDM9 could be to direct recombination away from PRDM9-independent hotspots. However, the ability of PRDM9 to direct recombination hotspots has been assessed in only a handful of species, and a clear picture of how much recombination occurs outside of PRDM9-directed hotspots in mammals is still lacking. In this study, we derived an estimator of past recombination activity based on signatures of GC-biased gene conversion in substitution patterns. We quantified recombination activity in PRDM9-independent hotspots in 52 species of boreoeutherian mammals. We observe a wide range of recombination rates at these loci: several species (such as mice, humans, some felids, or cetaceans) show a deficit of recombination, while a majority of mammals display a clear peak of recombination. Our results demonstrate that PRDM9-directed and PRDM9-independent hotspots can coexist in mammals and that their coexistence appears to be the rule rather than the exception. Additionally, we show that the location of PRDM9-independent hotspots is relatively more stable than that of PRDM9-directed hotspots, but that PRDM9-independent hotspots nevertheless evolve slowly in concert with DNA hypomethylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Joseph
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Villeurbanne69100, France
| | - Djivan Prentout
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
| | - Alexandre Laverré
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Théo Tricou
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Villeurbanne69100, France
| | - Laurent Duret
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Villeurbanne69100, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Joseph J. Increased Positive Selection in Highly Recombining Genes Does not Necessarily Reflect an Evolutionary Advantage of Recombination. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae107. [PMID: 38829800 PMCID: PMC11173204 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
It is commonly thought that the long-term advantage of meiotic recombination is to dissipate genetic linkage, allowing natural selection to act independently on different loci. It is thus theoretically expected that genes with higher recombination rates evolve under more effective selection. On the other hand, recombination is often associated with GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC), which theoretically interferes with selection by promoting the fixation of deleterious GC alleles. To test these predictions, several studies assessed whether selection was more effective in highly recombining genes (due to dissipation of genetic linkage) or less effective (due to gBGC), assuming a fixed distribution of fitness effects (DFE) for all genes. In this study, I directly derive the DFE from a gene's evolutionary history (shaped by mutation, selection, drift, and gBGC) under empirical fitness landscapes. I show that genes that have experienced high levels of gBGC are less fit and thus have more opportunities for beneficial mutations. Only a small decrease in the genome-wide intensity of gBGC leads to the fixation of these beneficial mutations, particularly in highly recombining genes. This results in increased positive selection in highly recombining genes that is not caused by more effective selection. Additionally, I show that the death of a recombination hotspot can lead to a higher dN/dS than its birth, but with substitution patterns biased towards AT, and only at selected positions. This shows that controlling for a substitution bias towards GC is therefore not sufficient to rule out the contribution of gBGC to signatures of accelerated evolution. Finally, although gBGC does not affect the fixation probability of GC-conservative mutations, I show that by altering the DFE, gBGC can also significantly affect nonsynonymous GC-conservative substitution patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Joseph
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Villeurbanne, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Arter M, Keeney S. Divergence and conservation of the meiotic recombination machinery. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:309-325. [PMID: 38036793 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00669-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Sexually reproducing eukaryotes use recombination between homologous chromosomes to promote chromosome segregation during meiosis. Meiotic recombination is almost universally conserved in its broad strokes, but specific molecular details often differ considerably between taxa, and the proteins that constitute the recombination machinery show substantial sequence variability. The extent of this variation is becoming increasingly clear because of recent increases in genomic resources and advances in protein structure prediction. We discuss the tension between functional conservation and rapid evolutionary change with a focus on the proteins that are required for the formation and repair of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks. We highlight phylogenetic relationships on different time scales and propose that this remarkable evolutionary plasticity is a fundamental property of meiotic recombination that shapes our understanding of molecular mechanisms in reproductive biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meret Arter
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott Keeney
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Takahashi M, Ito K, Iwasaki H, Norden B. Linear dichroism reveals the perpendicular orientation of DNA bases in the RecA and Rad51 recombinase filaments: A possible mechanism for the strand exchange reaction. Chirality 2024; 36:e23664. [PMID: 38561319 DOI: 10.1002/chir.23664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Linear dichroism spectroscopy is used to investigate the structure of RecA family recombinase filaments (RecA and Rad51 proteins) with DNA for clarifying the molecular mechanism of DNA strand exchange promoted by these proteins and its activation. The measurements show that the recombinases promote the perpendicular base orientation of single-stranded DNA only in the presence of activators, indicating the importance of base orientation in the reaction. We summarize the results and discuss the role of DNA base orientation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Takahashi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ito
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Iwasaki
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- Innovative Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Bengt Norden
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Renodon-Corniere A, Mikawa T, Kuwabara N, Ito K, Levitsky D, Iwasaki H, Takahashi M. Human Rad51 Protein Requires Higher Concentrations of Calcium Ions for D-Loop Formation than for Oligonucleotide Strand Exchange. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3633. [PMID: 38612444 PMCID: PMC11011376 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Human Rad51 protein (HsRad51)-promoted DNA strand exchange, a crucial step in homologous recombination, is regulated by proteins and calcium ions. Both the activator protein Swi5/Sfr1 and Ca2+ ions stimulate different reaction steps and induce perpendicular DNA base alignment in the presynaptic complex. To investigate the role of base orientation in the strand exchange reaction, we examined the Ca2+ concentration dependence of strand exchange activities and structural changes in the presynaptic complex. Our results show that optimal D-loop formation (strand exchange with closed circular DNA) required Ca2+ concentrations greater than 5 mM, whereas 1 mM Ca2+ was sufficient for strand exchange between two oligonucleotides. Structural changes indicated by increased fluorescence intensity of poly(dεA) (a poly(dA) analog) reached a plateau at 1 mM Ca2+. Ca2+ > 2 mM was required for saturation of linear dichroism signal intensity at 260 nm, associated with rigid perpendicular DNA base orientation, suggesting a correlation with the stimulation of D-loop formation. Therefore, Ca2+ exerts two different effects. Thermal stability measurements suggest that HsRad51 binds two Ca2+ ions with KD values of 0.2 and 2.5 mM, implying that one step is stimulated by one Ca2+ bond and the other by two Ca2+ bonds. Our results indicate parallels between the Mg2+ activation of RecA and the Ca2+ activation of HsRad51.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tsutomu Mikawa
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
| | - Naoyuki Kuwabara
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan;
| | - Kentaro Ito
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
| | - Dmitri Levitsky
- Nantes Université, CNRS, US2B, UMR 6286, F-44000 Nantes, France; (A.R.-C.); (D.L.)
| | - Hiroshi Iwasaki
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan;
- Innovative Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Masayuki Takahashi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tan Q, Zhang X, Luo Q, Xu YC, Zhang J, Liang WQ. The RING Domain of Rice HEI10 is Essential for Male, But Not Female Fertility. RICE (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 17:3. [PMID: 38180592 PMCID: PMC10769960 DOI: 10.1186/s12284-023-00681-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
HEI10 is a conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in crossover formation during meiosis, and is thus essential for both male and female gamete development. Here, we have discovered a novel allele of HEI10 in rice that produces a truncated HEI10 protein missing its N-terminal RING domain, namely sh1 (shorter hei10 1). Unlike previously reported hei10 null alleles that are completely sterile, sh1 exhibits complete male sterility but retains partial female fertility. The causative sh1 mutation is a 76 kb inversion between OsFYVE4 and HEI10, which breaks the integrity of both genes. Allelic tests and complementation assays revealed that the gamete developmental defects of sh1 were caused by disruption of HEI10. Further studies demonstrated that short HEI10 can correctly localise to the nucleus, where it could interact with other proteins that direct meiosis; expressing short HEI10 in hei10 null lines partially restores female fertility. Our data reveal an intriguing mutant allele of HEI10 with differential effects on male and female fertility, providing a new tool to explore similarities and differences between male and female meiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Tan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Luo
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Chun Xu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wan-Qi Liang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dluzewska J, Dziegielewski W, Szymanska-Lejman M, Gazecka M, Henderson IR, Higgins JD, Ziolkowski PA. MSH2 stimulates interfering and inhibits non-interfering crossovers in response to genetic polymorphism. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6716. [PMID: 37872134 PMCID: PMC10593791 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42511-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiotic crossovers can be formed through the interfering pathway, in which one crossover prevents another from forming nearby, or by an independent non-interfering pathway. In Arabidopsis, local sequence polymorphism between homologs can stimulate interfering crossovers in a MSH2-dependent manner. To understand how MSH2 regulates crossovers formed by the two pathways, we combined Arabidopsis mutants that elevate non-interfering crossovers with msh2 mutants. We demonstrate that MSH2 blocks non-interfering crossovers at polymorphic loci, which is the opposite effect to interfering crossovers. We also observe MSH2-independent crossover inhibition at highly polymorphic sites. We measure recombination along the chromosome arms in lines differing in patterns of heterozygosity and observe a MSH2-dependent crossover increase at the boundaries between heterozygous and homozygous regions. Here, we show that MSH2 is a master regulator of meiotic DSB repair in Arabidopsis, with antagonistic effects on interfering and non-interfering crossovers, which shapes the crossover landscape in relation to interhomolog polymorphism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Dluzewska
- Laboratory of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dziegielewski
- Laboratory of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Maja Szymanska-Lejman
- Laboratory of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Monika Gazecka
- Laboratory of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Ian R Henderson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James D Higgins
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Piotr A Ziolkowski
- Laboratory of Genome Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Úbeda F, Fyon F, Bürger R. The Recombination Hotspot Paradox: Co-evolution between PRDM9 and its target sites. Theor Popul Biol 2023; 153:69-90. [PMID: 37451508 DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Recombination often concentrates in small regions called recombination hotspots where recombination is much higher than the genome's average. In many vertebrates, including humans, gene PRDM9 specifies which DNA motifs will be the target for breaks that initiate recombination, ultimately determining the location of recombination hotspots. Because the sequence that breaks (allowing recombination) is converted into the sequence that does not break (preventing recombination), the latter sequence is over-transmitted to future generations and recombination hotspots are self-destructive. Given their self-destructive nature, recombination hotspots should eventually become extinct in genomes where they are found. While empirical evidence shows that individual hotspots do become inactive over time (die), hotspots are abundant in many vertebrates: a contradiction called the Recombination Hotspot Paradox. What saves recombination hotspots from their foretold extinction? Here we formulate a co-evolutionary model of the interaction among sequence-specific gene conversion, fertility selection, and recurrent mutation. We find that allelic frequencies oscillate leading to stable limit cycles. From a biological perspective this means that when fertility selection is weaker than gene conversion, it cannot stop individual hotspots from dying but can save them from extinction by driving their re-activation (resuscitation). In our model, mutation balances death and resuscitation of hotspots, thus maintaining their number over evolutionary time. Interestingly, we find that multiple alleles result in oscillations that are chaotic and multiple targets in oscillations that are asynchronous between targets thus helping to maintain the average genomic recombination probability constant. Furthermore, we find that the level of expression of PRDM9 should control for the fraction of targets that are hotspots and the overall temperature of the genome. Therefore, our co-evolutionary model improves our understanding of how hotspots may be replaced, thus contributing to solve the Recombination Hotspot Paradox. From a more applied perspective our work provides testable predictions regarding the relation between mutation probability and fertility selection with life expectancy of hotspots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Úbeda
- Department of Biology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK.
| | - Frédéric Fyon
- Department of Biology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Reinhard Bürger
- Faculty of Mathematics, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Akera T. Tubulin post-translational modifications in meiosis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 137:38-45. [PMID: 34836784 PMCID: PMC9124733 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Haploid gametes are produced from diploid parents through meiosis, a process inherent to all sexually reproducing eukaryotes. Faithful chromosome segregation in meiosis is essential for reproductive success, although it is less clear how the meiotic spindle achieves this compared to the mitotic spindle. It is becoming increasingly clear that tubulin post-translational modifications (PTMs) play critical roles in regulating microtubule functions in many biological processes, and meiosis is no exception. Here, I review recent advances in the understanding of tubulin PTMs in meiotic spindles, especially focusing on their roles in spindle integrity, oocyte aging, and non-Mendelian transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Akera
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Thangavel G, Hofstatter PG, Mercier R, Marques A. Tracing the evolution of the plant meiotic molecular machinery. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2023; 36:73-95. [PMID: 36646915 PMCID: PMC9957857 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-022-00456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a highly conserved specialised cell division in sexual life cycles of eukaryotes, forming the base of gene reshuffling, biological diversity and evolution. Understanding meiotic machinery across different plant lineages is inevitable to understand the lineage-specific evolution of meiosis. Functional and cytogenetic studies of meiotic proteins from all plant lineage representatives are nearly impossible. So, we took advantage of the genomics revolution to search for core meiotic proteins in accumulating plant genomes by the highly sensitive homology search approaches, PSI-BLAST, HMMER and CLANS. We could find that most of the meiotic proteins are conserved in most of the lineages. Exceptionally, Arabidopsis thaliana ASY4, PHS1, PRD2, PRD3 orthologs were mostly not detected in some distant algal lineages suggesting their minimal conservation. Remarkably, an ancestral duplication of SPO11 to all eukaryotes could be confirmed. Loss of SPO11-1 in Chlorophyta and Charophyta is likely to have occurred, suggesting that SPO11-1 and SPO11-2 heterodimerisation may be a unique feature in land plants of Viridiplantae. The possible origin of the meiotic proteins described only in plants till now, DFO and HEIP1, could be traced and seems to occur in the ancestor of vascular plants and Streptophyta, respectively. Our comprehensive approach is an attempt to provide insights about meiotic core proteins and thus the conservation of meiotic pathways across plant kingdom. We hope that this will serve the meiotic community a basis for further characterisation of interesting candidates in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gokilavani Thangavel
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany.
| | | | - Raphaël Mercier
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany.
| | - André Marques
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mazur AK, Gladyshev E. C-DNA may facilitate homologous DNA pairing. Trends Genet 2023:S0168-9525(23)00023-9. [PMID: 36804168 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Recombination-independent homologous pairing represents a prominent yet largely enigmatic feature of chromosome biology. As suggested by studies in the fungus Neurospora crassa, this process may be based on the direct pairing of homologous DNA molecules. Theoretical search for the DNA structures consistent with those genetic results has led to an all-atom model in which the B-DNA conformation of the paired double helices is strongly shifted toward C-DNA. Coincidentally, C-DNA also features a very shallow major groove that could permit initial homologous contacts without atom-atom clashes. The hereby conjectured role of C-DNA in homologous pairing should encourage the efforts to discover its biological functions and may also clarify the mechanism of recombination-independent recognition of DNA homology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexey K Mazur
- CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Group Fungal Epigenomics, Paris, France.
| | - Eugene Gladyshev
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Group Fungal Epigenomics, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Human in vitro spermatogenesis as a regenerative therapy - where do we stand? Nat Rev Urol 2023:10.1038/s41585-023-00723-4. [PMID: 36750655 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00723-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis involves precise temporal and spatial gene expression and cell signalling to reach a coordinated balance between self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells through various germ cell states including mitosis, and meiosis I and II, which result in the generation of haploid cells with a unique genetic identity. Subsequently, these round spermatids undergo a series of morphological changes to shed excess cytoplast, develop a midpiece and tail, and undergo DNA repackaging to eventually form millions of spermatozoa. The goal of recreating this process in vitro has been pursued since the 1920s as a tool to treat male factor infertility in patients with azoospermia. Continued advances in reproductive bioengineering led to successful generation of mature, functional sperm in mice and, in the past 3 years, in humans. Multiple approaches to study human in vitro spermatogenesis have been proposed, but technical and ethical obstacles have limited the ability to complete spermiogenesis, and further work is needed to establish a robust culture system for clinical application.
Collapse
|
15
|
Synthetic apomixis: the beginning of a new era. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102877. [PMID: 36628906 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Apomixis is a process of asexual reproduction that enables plants to bypass meiosis and fertilization to generate clonal seeds that are identical to the maternal genotype. Apomixis has tremendous potential for breeding plants with desired characteristics, given its ability to fix any elite genotype. However, little is known about the origin and dynamics of natural apomictic plant systems. The introgression of apomixis-related genes from natural apomicts has achieved limited success. Therefore, synthetic apomixis, engineered to include apomeiosis, autonomous embryo formation, and autonomous endosperm development, has been proposed as a promising platform to effectuate apomixis in any crop. In this study, we have summarized recent advances in the understanding of synthetic apomixis and discussed the limitations of current synthetic apomixis systems and ways to overcome them.
Collapse
|
16
|
Rubin T, Macaisne N, Vallés AM, Guilleman C, Gaugué I, Dal Toe L, Huynh JR. Premeiotic pairing of homologous chromosomes during Drosophila male meiosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207660119. [PMID: 36375065 PMCID: PMC9704699 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207660119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the early stages of meiosis, maternal and paternal chromosomes pair with their homologous partner and recombine to ensure exchange of genetic information and proper segregation. These events can vary drastically between species and between males and females of the same species. In Drosophila, in contrast to females, males do not form synaptonemal complexes (SCs), do not recombine, and have no crossing over; yet, males are able to segregate their chromosomes properly. Here, we investigated the early steps of homolog pairing in Drosophila males. We found that homolog centromeres are not paired in germline stem cells (GSCs) and become paired in the mitotic region before meiotic entry, similarly to females. Surprisingly, male germline cells express SC proteins, which localize to centromeres and promote pairing. We further found that the SUN/KASH (LINC) complex and microtubules are required for homolog pairing as in females. Chromosome movements in males, however, are much slower than in females and we demonstrate that this slow dynamic is compensated in males by having longer cell cycles. In agreement, slowing down cell cycles was sufficient to rescue pairing-defective mutants in female meiosis. Our results demonstrate that although meiosis differs significantly between males and females, sex-specific cell cycle kinetics integrate similar molecular mechanisms to achieve proper centromere pairing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Rubin
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France and Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | | | - Ana Maria Vallés
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France and Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Clara Guilleman
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France and Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Isabelle Gaugué
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Laurine Dal Toe
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France and Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Jean-René Huynh
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France and Paris Sciences & Lettres Research University, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chromosomal polymorphisms have no negative effect on reproductive outcomes after IVF/ICSI-ET/FET. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19052. [PMID: 36351959 PMCID: PMC9646876 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore whether chromosomal polymorphisms (CPs) have negative effects on reproductive outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET)/frozen-thawing embryo transfer (FET)? We conducted a retrospective study consisting of 21,867 assisted reproductive technology treatment cycles, among which, fresh embryo transfer cycles accounted for 10,400, and the rest were FET cycles. According to karyotype of CPs, the former was grouped as: group 1 (male carrier, n = 425), group 2 (female carrier, n = 262), and group 3 (couple without CPs, n = 9713). Accordingly, FET cycles were divided into 3 groups: group 4 (male carrier, n = 298), group 5 (female carrier, n = 311), and group 6 (couple without CPs, n = 10,858). The embryo implantation rate (IR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), and early miscarriage rate (EMR) were compared among the groups. In fresh embryo transfer cycles after IVF/ICSI, there were no significant differences in the infertility duration, BMI, basal FSH, no. of oocyte, no. of 2PN, endometrial thickness on trigger day, serum E2, P, and LH level on trigger day (P > 0.05). The female age, no. of 2PN embryo cleavage, top-quality embryo, and no. of embryo transferred were significantly different among groups (P < 0.05). The IR was 38.8%, 36.2%, and 34.0% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The CPR was 55.1%, 52.3%, and 49.7%, respectively. The LBR was 36.9%, 37.4%, and 36.4%, respectively. The CPR and LBR showed no significant differences among groups. The IR was lower and the EMR was higher in group 3 than those of groups 1 and 2. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that female age, no. of embryo transferred, EMT, LH, and P on the trigger day were independently factors associated with CPR. Besides, no. of embryo transferred, and EMT on trigger day were associated with LBR, while the CPs was not related with CPR and LBR after IVF/ICSI-ET. In FET cycles, the infertility duration was similar (P > 0.05), but the female age, BMI, no. of embryo transferred were significantly different among groups (P > 0.05). The IR was 24.3%, 23.6% and 22.3% in group 4, 5, and 6, receptivity. The CPR was 31.8%, 30.9%, and 30.0%, the LBR was 23.8%,26.3%, and 23.8%, while the EMR was 12.6%, 13.1%, 14.4%, respectively. The IR, CPR, EMR, and LBR showed no significant differences among groups (P > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that female age, infertility duration, and no. of embryo transferred were independently factors affecting CPR and LBR after FET. The CPs were not associated with CPR and LBR after FET. The results suggested that uniparental carrying of CPs have no effects on the reproductive outcomes after IVF/ICSI-ET/FET. However, it is not clear whether both parents carrying CPs would affect pregnancy outcome.
Collapse
|
18
|
Li Y, Meng R, Li S, Gu B, Xu X, Zhang H, Tan X, Shao T, Wang J, Xu D, Wang F. The ZFP541-KCTD19 complex is essential for pachytene progression by activating meiotic genes during mouse spermatogenesis. J Genet Genomics 2022; 49:1029-1041. [PMID: 35341968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Meiosis is essential for fertility in sexually reproducing species and this sophisticated process has been extensively studied. Notwithstanding these efforts, key factors involved in meiosis have not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigate the regulatory roles of zinc finger protein 541 (ZFP541) and its interacting protein potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 19 (KCTD19) in spermatogenesis. ZFP541 is expressed from leptotene to the round spermatid stage, while the expression of KCTD19 is initiated in pachytene. Depletion of Zfp541 or Kctd19 leads to infertility in male mice and delays progression from early to mid/late pachynema. In addition, Zfp541-/- spermatocytes show abnormal programmed DNA double-strand break repair, impaired crossover formation and resolution, and asynapsis of the XY chromosomes. ZFP541 interacts with KCTD19, histone deacetylase 1/2 (HDAC1/2), and deoxynucleotidyl transferase terminal-interacting protein 1 (DNTTIP1). Moreover, ZFP541 binds to and activates the expression of genes involved in meiosis and post-meiosis including Kctd19; in turn, KCTD19 promotes the transcriptional activation activity of ZFP541. Taken together, our studies reveal that the ZFP541/KCTD19 signaling complex, acting as a key transcription regulator, plays an indispensable role in male fertility by regulating pachytene progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yushan Li
- The School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Ranran Meng
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Shanze Li
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Bowen Gu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaotong Xu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Haihang Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xinshui Tan
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Tianyu Shao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Dan Xu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Fengchao Wang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences Beijing, Beijing 102206, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Billmyre KK. Chromosome-specific behaviors during early meiosis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 151:127-154. [PMID: 36681468 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Inheriting the wrong number of chromosomes is one of the leading causes of infertility and birth defects in humans. However, in many organisms, individual chromosomes vary dramatically in both organization, sequence, and size. Chromosome segregation systems must be capable of accounting for these differences to reliably segregate chromosomes. During gametogenesis, meiosis ensures that all chromosomes segregate properly into gametes (i.e., egg or sperm). Interestingly, not all chromosomes exhibit the same dynamics during meiosis, which can lead to chromosome-specific behaviors and defects. This review will summarize some of the chromosome-specific meiotic events that are currently known and discuss their impact on meiotic outcomes.
Collapse
|
20
|
Focal Adhesion Protein Vinculin Is Required for Proper Meiotic Progression during Mouse Spermatogenesis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11132013. [PMID: 35805097 PMCID: PMC9265697 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The focal adhesion protein Vinculin (VCL) is ascribed to various cytoplasmic functions; however, its nuclear role has so far been ambiguous. We observed that VCL localizes to the nuclei of mouse primary spermatocytes undergoing first meiotic division. Specifically, VCL localizes along the meiosis-specific structure synaptonemal complex (SC) during prophase I and the centromeric regions, where it remains until metaphase I. To study the role of VCL in meiotic division, we prepared a conditional knock-out mouse (VCLcKO). We found that the VCLcKO male mice were semi-fertile, with a decreased number of offspring compared to wild-type animals. This study of events in late prophase I indicated premature splitting of homologous chromosomes, accompanied by an untimely loss of SCP1. This caused erroneous kinetochore formation, followed by failure of the meiotic spindle assembly and metaphase I arrest. To assess the mechanism of VCL involvement in meiosis, we searched for its possible interacting partners. A mass spectrometry approach identified several putative interactors which belong to the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPS). The depletion of VLC leads to the dysregulation of a key subunit of the proteasome complex in the meiotic nuclei and an altered nuclear SUMOylation level. Taken together, we show for the first time the presence of VCL in the nucleus of spermatocytes and its involvement in proper meiotic progress. It also suggests the direction for future studies regarding the role of VCL in spermatogenesis through regulation of UPS.
Collapse
|
21
|
Homologous chromosome associations in domains before meiosis could facilitate chromosome recognition and pairing in wheat. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10597. [PMID: 35732879 PMCID: PMC9217977 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14843-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing human population demands an increase in crop yields that must be implemented through breeding programmes to ensure a more efficient and sustainable production of agro-food products. In the framework of breeding, genetic crosses are developed between cultivated species such as wheat and their relative species that are used as genetic donors to transfer desirable agronomic traits into the crop. Unfortunately, interspecific associations between chromosomes from the donor species and the cultivar are rare during meiosis, the process to produce gametes in organisms with sexual reproduction, hampering the transfer of genetic variability into wheat. In addition, little is known about how homologous (equivalent) chromosomes initiate interaction and recognition within the cell nucleus to enter meiosis. In this context, we aim to get insight into wheat chromatin structure, particularly the distribution of homologous chromosomes within the cell nucleus and their putative interactions in premeiotic stages to facilitate chromosome associations and recombination at the beginning of meiosis. Cytogenetics allows the study of both the structure and the behaviour of chromosomes during meiosis and is key in plant breeding. In this study we visualized an extra pair of barley homologous chromosomes in a wheat genetic background to study the spatial distribution, arrangements and interactions occurring exclusively between this pair of homologous chromosomes during premeiosis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Our results suggest that homologous chromosomes can initiate interactions in premeiotic stages that could facilitate the processes of specific chromosome recognition and association occurring at the onset of meiosis.
Collapse
|
22
|
Dello Stritto MR, Vojtassakova N, Velkova M, Hamminger P, Ulm P, Jantsch V. The topoisomerase 3 zinc finger domain cooperates with the RMI1 scaffold to promote stable association of the BTR complex to recombination intermediates in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5652-5671. [PMID: 35639927 PMCID: PMC9178014 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Homologous recombination is the predominant DNA repair pathway used in the gonad. Of the excess DNA double-strand breaks formed in meiosis, only a subset matures into crossovers, with the remainder repaired as non-crossovers. The conserved BTR complex (comprising Bloom helicase, topoisomerase 3 and RMI1/2 scaffold proteins) acts at multiple steps during recombination to dismantle joint DNA molecules, thereby mediating the non-crossover outcome and chromosome integrity. Furthermore, the complex displays a role at the crossover site that is less well understood. Besides catalytic and TOPRIM domains, topoisomerase 3 enzymes contain a variable number of carboxy terminal zinc finger (ZnF) domains. Here, we studied the Caenorhabditis elegans mutant, in which the single ZnF domain is deleted. In contrast to the gene disruption allele, the top-3-ZnF mutant is viable, with no replication defects; the allele appears to be a hypomorph. The TOP-3-ZnF protein is recruited into foci but the mutant has increased numbers of crossovers along its chromosomes, with minor defects in repressing heterologous recombination, and a marked delay in the maturation/processing of recombination intermediates after loading of the RAD-51 recombinase. The ZnF domain cooperates with the RMI1 homolog RMH-2 to stabilize association of the BTR complex with recombination intermediates and to prevent recombination between heterologous DNA sequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nina Vojtassakova
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | - Maria Velkova
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | - Patricia Hamminger
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | - Patricia Ulm
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | - Verena Jantsch
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Baudrimont A, Paouneskou D, Mohammad A, Lichtenberger R, Blundon J, Kim Y, Hartl M, Falk S, Schedl T, Jantsch V. Release of CHK-2 from PPM-1.D anchorage schedules meiotic entry. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl8861. [PMID: 35171669 PMCID: PMC8849337 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl8861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Transition from the stem/progenitor cell fate to meiosis is mediated by several redundant posttranscriptional regulatory pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans. Interfering with all three branches causes tumorous germ lines. SCFPROM-1 comprises one branch and mediates a scheduled degradation step at entry into meiosis. prom-1 mutants show defects in the timely initiation of meiotic prophase I events, resulting in high rates of embryonic lethality. Here, we identify the phosphatase PPM-1.D/Wip1 as crucial substrate for PROM-1. We report that PPM-1.D antagonizes CHK-2 kinase, a key regulator for meiotic prophase initiation, including DNA double-strand breaks, chromosome pairing, and synaptonemal complex formation. We propose that PPM-1.D controls the amount of active CHK-2 via both catalytic and noncatalytic activities; notably, noncatalytic regulation seems to be crucial at meiotic entry. PPM-1.D sequesters CHK-2 at the nuclear periphery, and programmed SCFPROM-1-mediated degradation of PPM-1.D liberates the kinase and promotes meiotic entry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Baudrimont
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dimitra Paouneskou
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ariz Mohammad
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Raffael Lichtenberger
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joshua Blundon
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yumi Kim
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Markus Hartl
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Falk
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tim Schedl
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Verena Jantsch
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sakuno T, Hiraoka Y. Rec8 Cohesin: A Structural Platform for Shaping the Meiotic Chromosomes. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:200. [PMID: 35205245 PMCID: PMC8871791 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is critically different from mitosis in that during meiosis, pairing and segregation of homologous chromosomes occur. During meiosis, the morphology of sister chromatids changes drastically, forming a prominent axial structure in the synaptonemal complex. The meiosis-specific cohesin complex plays a central role in the regulation of the processes required for recombination. In particular, the Rec8 subunit of the meiotic cohesin complex, which is conserved in a wide range of eukaryotes, has been analyzed for its function in modulating chromosomal architecture during the pairing and recombination of homologous chromosomes in meiosis. Here, we review the current understanding of Rec8 cohesin as a structural platform for meiotic chromosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasushi Hiraoka
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan;
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Dukić M, Bomblies K. Male and female recombination landscapes of diploid Arabidopsis arenosa. Genetics 2022; 220:6499271. [PMID: 35100396 PMCID: PMC8893250 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The number and placement of meiotic crossover events during meiosis have important implications for the fidelity of chromosome segregation as well as patterns of inheritance. Despite the functional importance of recombination, recombination landscapes vary widely among and within species, and this can have a strong impact on evolutionary processes. A good knowledge of recombination landscapes is important for model systems in evolutionary and ecological genetics, since it can improve interpretation of genomic patterns of differentiation and genome evolution, and provides an important starting point for understanding the causes and consequences of recombination rate variation. Arabidopsis arenosa is a powerful evolutionary genetic model for studying the molecular basis of adaptation and recombination rate evolution. Here, we generate genetic maps for 2 diploid A. arenosa individuals from distinct genetic lineages where we have prior knowledge that meiotic genes show evidence of selection. We complement the genetic maps with cytological approaches to map and quantify recombination rates, and test the idea that these populations might have distinct patterns of recombination. We explore how recombination differs at the level of populations, individuals, sexes and genomic regions. We show that the positioning of crossovers along a chromosome correlates with their number, presumably a consequence of crossover interference, and discuss how this effect can cause differences in recombination landscape among sexes or species. We identify several instances of female segregation distortion. We found that averaged genome-wide recombination rate is lower and sex differences subtler in A. arenosa than in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marinela Dukić
- Department of Biology, Plant Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Kirsten Bomblies
- Department of Biology, Plant Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Yuan J, Shi G, Yang Y, Braynen J, Shi X, Wei X, Hao Z, Zhang X, Yuan Y, Tian B, Xie Z, Wei F. Non-homologous chromosome pairing during meiosis in haploid Brassica rapa. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2021; 40:2421-2434. [PMID: 34542669 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02786-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cytological observations of chromosome pairing showed that evolutionarily genome duplication might reshape non-homologous pairing during meiosis in haploid B. rapa. A vast number of flowering plants have evolutionarily undergone whole genome duplication (WGD) event. Typically, Brassica rapa is currently considered as an evolutionary mesohexaploid, which has more complicated genomic constitution among flowering plants. In this study, we demonstrated chromosome behaviors in haploid B. rapa to understand how meiosis proceeds in presence of a single homolog. The findings showed that a diploid-like chromosome pairing was generally adapted during meiosis in haploid B. rapa. Non-homologous chromosomes in haploid cells paired at a high-frequency at metaphase I, over 50% of examined meiocytes showed at least three pairs of bivalents then equally segregated at anaphase I during meiosis. The fluorescence immunostaining showed that the cytoskeletal configurations were mostly well-organized during meiosis. Moreover, the expressed genes identified at meiosis in floral development was rather similar between haploid and diploid B. rapa, especially the expression of known hallmark genes pivotal to chromosome synapsis and homologous recombination were mostly in haploid B. rapa. Whole-genome duplication evolutionarily homology of genomic segments might be an important reason for this phenomenon, which would reshape the first division course of meiosis and influence pollen development in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Yuan
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Improvements, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Gongyao Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yan Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Janeen Braynen
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Improvements, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xinjie Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiaochun Wei
- Institute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Graduate T & R Base of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Zhuolin Hao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- Institute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Graduate T & R Base of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Yuxiang Yuan
- Institute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Graduate T & R Base of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Baoming Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Improvements, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Zhengqing Xie
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Improvements, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
| | - Fang Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Improvements, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tan X, He Y, Li Z, Wang Q, Du X, Liu J, Li B. Epigenetic silencing of bovine meiosis-specific recombinase Dmc1 by DNA methylation. ALL LIFE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/26895293.2021.2001383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Tan
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu He
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zongzhe Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qihui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuehai Du
- Liaoning Provincial Animal Husbandry Development Center, Liaoning Province Agricultural Development Service Center, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingge Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bojiang Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wu SC, Münger K. Role and Clinical Utility of Cancer/Testis Antigens in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225690. [PMID: 34830845 PMCID: PMC8616139 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer/testis (CT) antigens exhibit selective expression predominantly in immunoprivileged tissues in non-pathological contexts but are aberrantly expressed in diverse cancers. Due to their expression pattern, they have historically been attractive targets for immunotherapies. A growing number of studies implicate CT antigens in almost all hallmarks of cancer, suggesting that they may act as cancer drivers. CT antigens are expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. However, their role in the pathogenesis of these cancers remains poorly studied. Given that CT antigens hold intriguing potential as therapeutic targets and as biomarkers for prognosis and that they can provide novel insights into oncogenic mechanisms, their further study in the context of head and squamous cell carcinoma is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Changshan Wu
- Molecular Microbiology Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
| | - Karl Münger
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Zuo W, Chen G, Gao Z, Li S, Chen Y, Huang C, Chen J, Chen Z, Lei M, Bian Q. Stage-resolved Hi-C analyses reveal meiotic chromosome organizational features influencing homolog alignment. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5827. [PMID: 34625553 PMCID: PMC8501046 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26033-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During meiosis, chromosomes exhibit dramatic changes in morphology and intranuclear positioning. How these changes influence homolog pairing, alignment, and recombination remain elusive. Using Hi-C, we systematically mapped 3D genome architecture throughout all meiotic prophase substages during mouse spermatogenesis. Our data uncover two major chromosome organizational features varying along the chromosome axis during early meiotic prophase, when homolog alignment occurs. First, transcriptionally active and inactive genomic regions form alternating domains consisting of shorter and longer chromatin loops, respectively. Second, the force-transmitting LINC complex promotes the alignment of ends of different chromosomes over a range of up to 20% of chromosome length. Both features correlate with the pattern of homolog interactions and the distribution of recombination events. Collectively, our data reveal the influences of transcription and force on meiotic chromosome structure and suggest chromosome organization may provide an infrastructure for the modulation of meiotic recombination in higher eukaryotes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wu Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Guangming Chen
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou University, 313000, Huzhou, China
| | - Zhimei Gao
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Li
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenhui Huang
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengjun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Lei
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qian Bian
- Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Böwer F, Schnittger A. How to Switch from Mitosis to Meiosis: Regulation of Germline Entry in Plants. Annu Rev Genet 2021; 55:427-452. [PMID: 34530640 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112618-043553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
One of the major cell fate transitions in eukaryotes is entry into meiosis. While in single-celled yeast this decision is triggered by nutrient starvation, in multicellular eukaryotes, such as plants, it is under developmental control. In contrast to animals, plants have only a short germline and instruct cells to become meiocytes in reproductive organs late in development. This situation argues for a fundamentally different mechanism of how plants recruit meiocytes, and consistently, none of the regulators known to control meiotic entry in yeast and animals are present in plants. In recent years, several factors involved in meiotic entry have been identified, especially in the model plant Arabidopsis, and pieces of a regulatory network of germline control in plants are emerging. However, the corresponding studies also show that the mechanisms of meiotic entry control are diversified in flowering plants, calling for further analyses in different plant species. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 55 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Böwer
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute for Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, D-22609 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Arp Schnittger
- Department of Developmental Biology, Institute for Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, D-22609 Hamburg, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Jiang X, Zhao D, Ali A, Xu B, Liu W, Wen J, Zhang H, Shi Q, Zhang Y. MeiosisOnline: A Manually Curated Database for Tracking and Predicting Genes Associated With Meiosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:673073. [PMID: 34485275 PMCID: PMC8415030 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.673073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis, an essential step in gametogenesis, is the key event in sexually reproducing organisms. Thousands of genes have been reported to be involved in meiosis. Therefore, a specialist database is much needed for scientists to know about the function of these genes quickly and to search for genes with potential roles in meiosis. Here, we developed "MeiosisOnline," a publicly accessible, comprehensive database of known functional genes and potential candidates in meiosis (https://mcg.ustc.edu.cn/bsc/meiosis/index.html). A total of 2,052 meiotic genes were manually curated from literature resource and were classified into different categories. Annotation information was provided for both meiotic genes and predicted candidates, including basic information, function, protein-protein interaction (PPI), and expression data. On the other hand, 165 mouse genes were predicted as potential candidates in meiosis using the "Greed AUC Stepwise" algorithm. Thus, MeiosisOnline provides the most updated and detailed information of experimental verified and predicted genes in meiosis. Furthermore, the searching tools and friendly interface of MeiosisOnline will greatly help researchers in studying meiosis in an easy and efficient way.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Huan Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qinghua Shi
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Rappaport Y, Achache H, Falk R, Murik O, Ram O, Tzur YB. Bisection of the X chromosome disrupts the initiation of chromosome silencing during meiosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4802. [PMID: 34376665 PMCID: PMC8355143 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During meiosis, gene expression is silenced in aberrantly unsynapsed chromatin and in heterogametic sex chromosomes. Initiation of sex chromosome silencing is disrupted in meiocytes with sex chromosome-autosome translocations. To determine whether this is due to aberrant synapsis or loss of continuity of sex chromosomes, we engineered Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes with non-translocated, bisected X chromosomes. In early meiocytes of mutant males and hermaphrodites, X segments are enriched with euchromatin assembly markers and active RNA polymerase II staining, indicating active transcription. Analysis of RNA-seq data showed that genes from the X chromosome are upregulated in gonads of mutant worms. Contrary to previous models, which predicted that any unsynapsed chromatin is silenced during meiosis, our data indicate that unsynapsed X segments are transcribed. Therefore, our results suggest that sex chromosome chromatin has a unique character that facilitates its meiotic expression when its continuity is lost, regardless of whether or not it is synapsed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yisrael Rappaport
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hanna Achache
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Roni Falk
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Omer Murik
- Medical Genetics Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oren Ram
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yonatan B Tzur
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
Sex, as well as meiotic recombination between homologous chromosomes, is nearly ubiquitous among eukaryotes. In those species that use it, recombination is important for chromosome segregation during gamete production, and thus for fertility. Strikingly, although in most species only one crossover event per chromosome is required to ensure proper segregation, recombination rates vary considerably above this minimum and show variation within and among species. However, whether this variation in recombination is adaptive or neutral and what might shape it remain unclear. Empirical studies and theory support the idea that recombination is generally beneficial but can also have costs. Here, we review variation in genome-wide recombination rates, explore what might cause this, and discuss what is known about its mechanistic basis. We end by discussing the environmental sensitivity of meiosis and recombination rates, how these features may relate to adaptation, and their implications for a broader understanding of recombination rate evolution. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 55 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian R Henderson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, United Kingdom;
| | - Kirsten Bomblies
- Plant Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland;
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Grey C, de Massy B. Chromosome Organization in Early Meiotic Prophase. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:688878. [PMID: 34150782 PMCID: PMC8209517 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.688878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most fascinating aspects of meiosis is the extensive reorganization of the genome at the prophase of the first meiotic division (prophase I). The first steps of this reorganization are observed with the establishment of an axis structure, that connects sister chromatids, from which emanate arrays of chromatin loops. This axis structure, called the axial element, consists of various proteins, such as cohesins, HORMA-domain proteins, and axial element proteins. In many organisms, axial elements are required to set the stage for efficient sister chromatid cohesion and meiotic recombination, necessary for the recognition of the homologous chromosomes. Here, we review the different actors involved in axial element formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in mouse. We describe the current knowledge of their localization pattern during prophase I, their functional interdependence, their role in sister chromatid cohesion, loop axis formation, homolog pairing before meiotic recombination, and recombination. We also address further challenges that need to be resolved, to fully understand the interplay between the chromosome structure and the different molecular steps that take place in early prophase I, which lead to the successful outcome of meiosis I.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Grey
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernard de Massy
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Takemoto K, Tani N, Takada-Horisawa Y, Fujimura S, Tanno N, Yamane M, Okamura K, Sugimoto M, Araki K, Ishiguro KI. Meiosis-Specific C19orf57/4930432K21Rik/BRME1 Modulates Localization of RAD51 and DMC1 to DSBs in Mouse Meiotic Recombination. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107686. [PMID: 32460033 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiotic recombination is critical for genetic exchange and generation of chiasmata that ensures faithful chromosome segregation during meiosis I. Meiotic recombination is initiated by DNA double-strand break (DSB) followed by multiple processes of DNA repair. The exact mechanisms for how recombinases localize to DSB remain elusive. Here, we show that C19orf57/4930432K21Rik/BRME1 is a player for meiotic recombination in mice. C19orf57/4930432K21Rik/BRME1 associates with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins, BRCA2 and MEILB2/HSF2BP, which are critical recruiters of recombinases onto DSB sites. Disruption of C19orf57/4930432K21Rik/BRME1 shows severe impact on DSB repair and male fertility. Remarkably, removal of ssDNA binding proteins from DSB sites is delayed, and reciprocally, the loading of RAD51 and DMC1 onto resected ssDNA is impaired in Brme1 knockout (KO) spermatocytes. We propose that C19orf57/4930432K21Rik/BRME1 modulates localization of recombinases to meiotic DSB sites through the interaction with the BRCA2-MEILB2/HSF2BP complex during meiotic recombination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa Takemoto
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Naoki Tani
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yuki Takada-Horisawa
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Sayoko Fujimura
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Tanno
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Mariko Yamane
- RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kaho Okamura
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Michihiko Sugimoto
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan; Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Meiosis is a highly conserved and essential process in gametogenesis in sexually reproducing organisms. However, there are substantial sex-specific differences within individual species with respect to meiosis-related chromatin reorganization, recombination, and tolerance for meiotic defects. A wide range of murine models have been developed over the past two decades to study the complex regulatory processes governing mammalian meiosis. The present review article thus provides a comprehensive overview of the knockout mice that have been employed to study meiosis, with a particular focus on gene- and gametogenesis-related sexual dimorphism observed in these model animals. In so doing, we aim to provide a firm foundation for the future study of sex-specific differences in meiosis at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Dello Stritto MR, Bauer B, Barraud P, Jantsch V. DNA topoisomerase 3 is required for efficient germ cell quality control. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:211935. [PMID: 33798260 PMCID: PMC8025215 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202012057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
An important quality control mechanism eliminates meiocytes that have experienced recombination failure during meiosis. The culling of defective oocytes in Caenorhabditis elegans meiosis resembles late oocyte elimination in female mammals. Here we show that topoisomerase 3 depletion generates DNA lesions in both germline mitotic and meiotic compartments that are less capable of triggering p53 (cep-1)–dependent apoptosis, despite the activation of DNA damage and apoptosis signaling. Elimination of nonhomologous, alternative end joining and single strand annealing repair factors (CKU-70, CKU-80, POLQ-1, and XPF-1) can alleviate the apoptosis block. Remarkably, the ability of single mutants in the other members of the Bloom helicase-topoisomerase-RMI1 complex to elicit apoptosis is not compromised, and depletion of Bloom helicase in topoisomerase 3 mutants restores an effective apoptotic response. Therefore, uncontrolled Bloom helicase activity seems to direct DNA repair toward normally not used repair pathways, and this counteracts efficient apoptosis. This implicates an as-yet undescribed requirement for topoisomerase 3 in mounting an effective apoptotic response to ensure germ cell quality control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosaria Dello Stritto
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernd Bauer
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pierre Barraud
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR 8261, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientific, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France
| | - Verena Jantsch
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kazemi P, Taketo T. Two telomeric ends of acrocentric chromosome play distinct roles in homologous chromosome synapsis in the fetal mouse oocyte. Chromosoma 2021; 130:41-52. [PMID: 33492414 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-021-00752-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian oocytes, proper chromosome segregation at the first meiotic division is dictated by the presence and site of homologous chromosome recombination, which takes place in fetal life. Our current understanding of how homologous chromosomes find each other and initiate synapsis, which is prerequisite for homologous recombination, is limited. It is known that chromosome telomeres are anchored into the nuclear envelope (NE) at the early meiotic prophase I (MPI) and move along NE to facilitate homologous chromosome search and pairing. However, the mouse (Mus musculus) carries all acrocentric chromosomes with one telomeric end close to the centromere (subcentromeric telomere; C-telomere) and the other far away from the centromere (distal telomere; D-telomere), and how C- and D-telomeres participate in chromosome pairing and synapsis during the MPI progression is not well understood. Here, we found in the mouse oocyte that C- and D-telomeres transiently clustered in one area, but D-telomeres soon separated together from C-telomeres and then dispersed to preferentially initiate synapsis, while C-telomeres remained in clusters and synapsed at the last. In the Spo11 null oocyte, which is deficient in SPO11-dependent DSBs formation and homologous synapsis, the pattern of C- and D-telomere clustering and resolution was not affected, but synapsis was more frequently initiated at C-telomeres. These results suggest that SPO11 suppresses the early synapsis between C-telomeres in clusters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Kazemi
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Teruko Taketo
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada. .,Department of Surgery, McGill University, RI-MUHC, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada. .,Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, McGill University, RI-MUHC, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Aguilar M, Prieto P. Telomeres and Subtelomeres Dynamics in the Context of Early Chromosome Interactions During Meiosis and Their Implications in Plant Breeding. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:672489. [PMID: 34149773 PMCID: PMC8212018 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.672489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Genomic architecture facilitates chromosome recognition, pairing, and recombination. Telomeres and subtelomeres play an important role at the beginning of meiosis in specific chromosome recognition and pairing, which are critical processes that allow chromosome recombination between homologs (equivalent chromosomes in the same genome) in later stages. In plant polyploids, these terminal regions are even more important in terms of homologous chromosome recognition, due to the presence of homoeologs (equivalent chromosomes from related genomes). Although telomeres interaction seems to assist homologous pairing and consequently, the progression of meiosis, other chromosome regions, such as subtelomeres, need to be considered, because the DNA sequence of telomeres is not chromosome-specific. In addition, recombination operates at subtelomeres and, as it happens in rye and wheat, homologous recognition and pairing is more often correlated with recombining regions than with crossover-poor regions. In a plant breeding context, the knowledge of how homologous chromosomes initiate pairing at the beginning of meiosis can contribute to chromosome manipulation in hybrids or interspecific genetic crosses. Thus, recombination in interspecific chromosome associations could be promoted with the aim of transferring desirable agronomic traits from related genetic donor species into crops. In this review, we summarize the importance of telomeres and subtelomeres on chromatin dynamics during early meiosis stages and their implications in recombination in a plant breeding framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Aguilar
- Área de Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Pilar Prieto
- Plant Breeding Department, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Córdoba, Spain
- *Correspondence: Pilar Prieto, ; orcid.org/0000-0002-8160-808X
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ahmed EA, Alzahrani AM, Scherthan H. Parp1-Dependent DNA Double-Strand Break Repair in Irradiated Late Pachytene Spermatocytes. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 40:209-218. [PMID: 33337266 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2020.5727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (Parp1) is a member of nuclear enzymes family involved in to the response to genotoxic stresses, DNA repair, and is critical for the maintenance of genome stability. During gametogenesis, genome stability is essential for inheritance and formation of healthy gametes. The latter involves DNA double-strand break (DSB)-driven pairing of homologous chromosomes in first meiotic prophase. By analysis of DSB repair kinetics in male meiotic prophase cells of homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)-deficient mouse models, we previously demonstrated an interplay between HR and the conventional NHEJ repair pathway. In the current work, we evaluate the relative contribution of Parp1-dependent NHEJ to the repair of ectopic ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DSBs in control and Parp1-inhibited mouse pachytene spermatocytes before and after the completion of meiotic recombination in stages VI-XI. The disappearance of large, exogenous DSB-related γ-H2AX foci was quantified 1 and 8 h after 1 Gy γ-irradiation of control and 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)butoxy]-1(2H)quinolinone (DPQ) Parp1-inhibited mice. Late pachytene control spermatocytes obtained 8 h after IR had repaired >80% of DSBs observed at 1 h after IR. However, only 64% of DSBs were repaired in late spermatocytes of DPQ-treated (Parp1-inhibited) mice. Thus, it appears that Parp1 contributes to the repair of a fraction of DSBs in late prophase I, providing further insights in DNA repair pathway choreography during spermatogenic differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emad A Ahmed
- Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.,Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Abdullah M Alzahrani
- Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Harry Scherthan
- Institut für Radiobiologie der Bundeswehr in Verb. mit der Universität Ulm, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Zhang LF, Tan-Tai WJ, Li XH, Liu MF, Shi HJ, Martin-DeLeon PA, O WS, Chen H. PHB regulates meiotic recombination via JAK2-mediated histone modifications in spermatogenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:4780-4796. [PMID: 32232334 PMCID: PMC7229831 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we have shown that human sperm Prohibitin (PHB) expression is significantly negatively correlated with mitochondrial ROS levels but positively correlated with mitochondrial membrane potential and motility. However, the possible role of PHB in mammalian spermatogenesis has not been investigated. Here we document the presence of PHB in spermatocytes and its functional roles in meiosis by generating the first male germ cell-specific Phb-cKO mouse. Loss of PHB in spermatocytes resulted in complete male infertility, associated with not only meiotic pachytene arrest with accompanying apoptosis, but also apoptosis resulting from mitochondrial morphology and function impairment. Our mechanistic studies show that PHB in spermatocytes regulates the expression of STAG3, a key component of the meiotic cohesin complex, via a non-canonical JAK/STAT pathway, and consequently promotes meiotic DSB repair and homologous recombination. Furthermore, the PHB/JAK2 axis was found as a novel mechanism in the maintenance of stabilization of meiotic STAG3 cohesin complex and the modulation of heterochromatin formation in spermatocytes during meiosis. The observed JAK2-mediated epigenetic changes in histone modifications, reflected in a reduction of histone 3 tyrosine 41 phosphorylation (H3Y41ph) and a retention of H3K9me3 at the Stag3 locus, could be responsible for Stag3 dysregulation in spermatocytes with the loss of PHB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Fei Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wen-Jing Tan-Tai
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mo-Fang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences-University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hui-Juan Shi
- Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC-Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University Reproduction and DevelopmentInstitution, Shanghai 200032, China
| | | | - Wai-Sum O
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Systematic analysis of long intergenic non-coding RNAs in C. elegans germline uncovers roles in somatic growth. RNA Biol 2020; 18:435-445. [PMID: 32892705 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2020.1814549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that are transcribed from non-coding loci yet undergo biosynthesis similar to coding mRNAs. The disproportional number of lincRNAs expressed in testes suggests that lincRNAs are important during gametogenesis, but experimental evidence has implicated very few lincRNAs in this process. We took advantage of the relatively limited number of lincRNAs in the genome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to systematically analyse the functions of lincRNAs during meiosis. We deleted six lincRNA genes that are highly and dynamically expressed in the C. elegans gonad and tested the effects on central meiotic processes. Surprisingly, whereas the lincRNA deletions did not strongly impact fertility, germline apoptosis, crossovers, or synapsis, linc-4 was required for somatic growth. Slower growth was observed in linc-4-deletion mutants and in worms depleted of linc-4 using RNAi, indicating that linc-4 transcripts are required for this post-embryonic process. Unexpectedly, analysis of worms depleted of linc-4 in soma versus germline showed that the somatic role stems from linc-4 expression in germline cells. This unique feature suggests that some lincRNAs, like some small non-coding RNAs, are required for germ-soma interactions.
Collapse
|
43
|
Fujiwara Y, Horisawa-Takada Y, Inoue E, Tani N, Shibuya H, Fujimura S, Kariyazono R, Sakata T, Ohta K, Araki K, Okada Y, Ishiguro KI. Meiotic cohesins mediate initial loading of HORMAD1 to the chromosomes and coordinate SC formation during meiotic prophase. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009048. [PMID: 32931493 PMCID: PMC7518614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During meiotic prophase, sister chromatids are organized into axial element (AE), which underlies the structural framework for the meiotic events such as meiotic recombination and homolog synapsis. HORMA domain-containing proteins (HORMADs) localize along AE and play critical roles in the regulation of those meiotic events. Organization of AE is attributed to two groups of proteins: meiotic cohesins REC8 and RAD21L; and AE components SYCP2 and SYCP3. It has been elusive how these chromosome structural proteins contribute to the chromatin loading of HORMADs prior to AE formation. Here we newly generated Sycp2 null mice and showed that initial chromatin loading of HORMAD1 was mediated by meiotic cohesins prior to AE formation. HORMAD1 interacted not only with the AE components SYCP2 and SYCP3 but also with meiotic cohesins. Notably, HORMAD1 interacted with meiotic cohesins even in Sycp2-KO, and localized along cohesin axial cores independently of the AE components SYCP2 and SYCP3. Hormad1/Rad21L-double knockout (dKO) showed more severe defects in the formation of synaptonemal complex (SC) compared to Hormad1-KO or Rad21L-KO. Intriguingly, Hormad1/Rec8-dKO but not Hormad1/Rad21L-dKO showed precocious separation of sister chromatid axis. These findings suggest that meiotic cohesins REC8 and RAD21L mediate chromatin loading and the mode of action of HORMAD1 for synapsis during early meiotic prophase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Pathology and Development, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Horisawa-Takada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Erina Inoue
- Laboratory of Pathology and Development, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Tani
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiroki Shibuya
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sayoko Fujimura
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryo Kariyazono
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toyonori Sakata
- Laboratory of Genome Structure and Function, the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Ohta
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis & Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Okada
- Laboratory of Pathology and Development, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei-ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Hiraoka Y. Phase separation drives pairing of homologous chromosomes. Curr Genet 2020; 66:881-887. [PMID: 32285141 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01077-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Pairing of homologous chromosomes is crucial for ensuring accurate segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. Molecular mechanisms of homologous chromosome pairing in meiosis have been extensively studied in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In this organism, meiosis-specific noncoding RNA transcribed from specific genes accumulates at the respective gene loci, and chromosome-associated RNA-protein complexes mediate meiotic pairing of homologous loci through phase separation. Pairing of homologous chromosomes also occurs in somatic diploid cells in certain situations. For example, somatic pairing of homologous chromosomes occurs during the early embryogenesis in diptera, and relies on the transcription-associated chromatin architecture. Earlier models also suggest that transcription factories along the chromosome mediate pairing of homologous chromosomes in plants. These studies suggest that RNA bodies formed on chromosomes mediate the pairing of homologous chromosomes. This review summarizes lessons from S. pombe to provide general insights into mechanisms of homologous chromosome pairing mediated by phase separation of chromosome-associated RNA-protein complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Hiraoka
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
"The nuclear envelope, a meiotic jack-of-all-trades". Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 64:34-42. [PMID: 32109733 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2019.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The nucleus is one of the membrane-bound organelles that are a distinguishing feature between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. During meiosis, the nuclear envelope takes on functions beyond separating the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm. These include associations with meiotic chromosomes to mediate pairing, being a sensor for recombination progression, and supportive of enormous nuclear growth during oocyte formation. In this review, we highlight recent results that have contributed to our understanding of meiotic nuclear envelope function and dynamics.
Collapse
|
46
|
Hinnant TD, Merkle JA, Ables ET. Coordinating Proliferation, Polarity, and Cell Fate in the Drosophila Female Germline. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:19. [PMID: 32117961 PMCID: PMC7010594 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gametes are highly specialized cell types produced by a complex differentiation process. Production of viable oocytes requires a series of precise and coordinated molecular events. Early in their development, germ cells are an interconnected group of mitotically dividing cells. Key regulatory events lead to the specification of mature oocytes and initiate a switch to the meiotic cell cycle program. Though the chromosomal events of meiosis have been extensively studied, it is unclear how other aspects of oocyte specification are temporally coordinated. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has long been at the forefront as a model system for genetics and cell biology research. The adult Drosophila ovary continuously produces germ cells throughout the organism’s lifetime, and many of the cellular processes that occur to establish oocyte fate are conserved with mammalian gamete development. Here, we review recent discoveries from Drosophila that advance our understanding of how early germ cells balance mitotic exit with meiotic initiation. We discuss cell cycle control and establishment of cell polarity as major themes in oocyte specification. We also highlight a germline-specific organelle, the fusome, as integral to the coordination of cell division, cell polarity, and cell fate in ovarian germ cells. Finally, we discuss how the molecular controls of the cell cycle might be integrated with cell polarity and cell fate to maintain oocyte production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D Hinnant
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Julie A Merkle
- Department of Biology, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN, United States
| | - Elizabeth T Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Ding DQ, Okamasa K, Katou Y, Oya E, Nakayama JI, Chikashige Y, Shirahige K, Haraguchi T, Hiraoka Y. Chromosome-associated RNA-protein complexes promote pairing of homologous chromosomes during meiosis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5598. [PMID: 31811152 PMCID: PMC6898681 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13609-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pairing of homologous chromosomes in meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction. We have previously demonstrated that the fission yeast sme2 RNA, a meiosis-specific long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), accumulates at the sme2 chromosomal loci and mediates their robust pairing in meiosis. However, the mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated homologous pairing have remained elusive. In this study, we identify conserved RNA-binding proteins that are required for robust pairing of homologous chromosomes. These proteins accumulate mainly at the sme2 and two other chromosomal loci together with meiosis-specific lncRNAs transcribed from these loci. Remarkably, the chromosomal accumulation of these lncRNA–protein complexes is required for robust pairing. Moreover, the lncRNA–protein complexes exhibit phase separation properties, since 1,6-hexanediol treatment reversibly disassembled these complexes and disrupted the pairing of associated loci. We propose that lncRNA–protein complexes assembled at specific chromosomal loci mediate recognition and subsequent pairing of homologous chromosomes. During meiosis, pairing of homologous chromosomes is critical for sexual reproduction. Here the authors reveal in S. pombe the role of lncRNA–protein complexes during the pairing of homologues chromosomes that assemble at specific chromosomal loci to mediate recognition of the pairs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Da-Qiao Ding
- Advanced ICT Research Institute Kobe, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, 651-2492, Japan.
| | - Kasumi Okamasa
- Advanced ICT Research Institute Kobe, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, 651-2492, Japan
| | - Yuki Katou
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Eriko Oya
- Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, 467-8501, Japan.,Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, 112-8551, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Nakayama
- Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, 467-8501, Japan.,Division of Chromatin Regulation, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yuji Chikashige
- Advanced ICT Research Institute Kobe, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, 651-2492, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Shirahige
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Tokuko Haraguchi
- Advanced ICT Research Institute Kobe, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, 651-2492, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasushi Hiraoka
- Advanced ICT Research Institute Kobe, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, 651-2492, Japan. .,Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Steinfeld JB, Beláň O, Kwon Y, Terakawa T, Al-Zain A, Smith MJ, Crickard JB, Qi Z, Zhao W, Rothstein R, Symington LS, Sung P, Boulton SJ, Greene EC. Defining the influence of Rad51 and Dmc1 lineage-specific amino acids on genetic recombination. Genes Dev 2019; 33:1191-1207. [PMID: 31371435 PMCID: PMC6719624 DOI: 10.1101/gad.328062.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The vast majority of eukaryotes possess two DNA recombinases: Rad51, which is ubiquitously expressed, and Dmc1, which is meiosis-specific. The evolutionary origins of this two-recombinase system remain poorly understood. Interestingly, Dmc1 can stabilize mismatch-containing base triplets, whereas Rad51 cannot. Here, we demonstrate that this difference can be attributed to three amino acids conserved only within the Dmc1 lineage of the Rad51/RecA family. Chimeric Rad51 mutants harboring Dmc1-specific amino acids gain the ability to stabilize heteroduplex DNA joints with mismatch-containing base triplets, whereas Dmc1 mutants with Rad51-specific amino acids lose this ability. Remarkably, RAD-51 from Caenorhabditis elegans, an organism without Dmc1, has acquired "Dmc1-like" amino acids. Chimeric C. elegans RAD-51 harboring "canonical" Rad51 amino acids gives rise to toxic recombination intermediates, which must be actively dismantled to permit normal meiotic progression. We propose that Dmc1 lineage-specific amino acids involved in the stabilization of heteroduplex DNA joints with mismatch-containing base triplets may contribute to normal meiotic recombination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin B Steinfeld
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Ondrej Beláň
- DSB Repair Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Youngho Kwon
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Terakawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Amr Al-Zain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Michael J Smith
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - J Brooks Crickard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Zhi Qi
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University-Tsinghua University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Weixing Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Rodney Rothstein
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Lorraine S Symington
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Patrick Sung
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Simon J Boulton
- DSB Repair Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Eric C Greene
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Exploring Molecular Signs of Sex in the Marine Diatom Skeletonema marinoi. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10070494. [PMID: 31261777 PMCID: PMC6678668 DOI: 10.3390/genes10070494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction plays a fundamental role in diatom life cycles. It contributes to increasing genetic diversity through meiotic recombination and also represents the phase where large-sized cells are produced to counteract the cell size reduction process that characterizes these microalgae. With the aim to identify genes linked to the sexual phase of the centric planktonic diatom Skeletonema marinoi, we carried out an RNA-seq experiment comparing the expression level of transcripts in sexualized cells with that of large cells not competent for sex. A set of genes involved in meiosis were found upregulated. Despite the fact that flagellate gametes were observed in the sample, we did not detect the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of flagella that were upregulated during sexual reproduction in another centric diatom. A comparison with the set of genes changing during the first phases of sexual reproduction of the pennate diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata revealed the existence of commonalities, including the strong upregulation of genes with an unknown function that we named Sex Induced Genes (SIG). Our results further broadened the panel of genes that can be used as a marker for sexual reproduction of diatoms, crucial for the interpretation of metatranscriptomic datasets.
Collapse
|
50
|
Hesse S, Zelkowski M, Mikhailova EI, Keijzer CJ, Houben A, Schubert V. Ultrastructure and Dynamics of Synaptonemal Complex Components During Meiotic Pairing and Synapsis of Standard (A) and Accessory (B) Rye Chromosomes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:773. [PMID: 31281324 PMCID: PMC6596450 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
During prophase I a meiosis-specific proteinaceous tripartite structure, the synaptonemal complex (SC), forms a scaffold to connect homologous chromosomes along their lengths. This process, called synapsis, is required in most organisms to promote recombination between homologs facilitating genetic variability and correct chromosome segregations during anaphase I. Recent studies in various organisms ranging from yeast to mammals identified several proteins involved in SC formation. However, the process of SC disassembly remains largely enigmatic. In this study we determined the structural changes during SC formation and disassembly in rye meiocytes containing accessory (B) chromosomes. The use of electron and super-resolution microscopy (3D-SIM) combined with immunohistochemistry and FISH allowed us to monitor the structural changes during prophase I. Visualization of the proteins ASY1, ZYP1, NSE4A, and HEI10 revealed an extensive SC remodeling during prophase I. The ultrastructural investigations of the dynamics of these four proteins showed that the SC disassembly is accompanied by the retraction of the lateral and axial elements from the central region of the SC. In addition, SC fragmentation and the formation of ball-like SC structures occur at late diakinesis. Moreover, we show that the SC composition of rye B chromosomes does not differ from that of the standard (A) chromosome complement. Our ultrastructural investigations indicate that the dynamic behavior of the studied proteins is involved in SC formation and synapsis. In addition, they fulfill also functions during desynapsis and chromosome condensation to realize proper recombination and homolog separation. We propose a model for the homologous chromosome behavior during prophase I based on the observed dynamics of ASY1, ZYP1, NSE4A, and HEI10.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susann Hesse
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
| | - Mateusz Zelkowski
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
| | - Elena I. Mikhailova
- N.I.Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Andreas Houben
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
| | - Veit Schubert
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
| |
Collapse
|