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Zhou KD, Zhang CX, Niu FR, Bai HC, Wu DD, Deng JC, Qian HY, Jiang YL, Ma W. Exploring Plant Meiosis: Insights from the Kinetochore Perspective. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:7974-7995. [PMID: 37886947 PMCID: PMC10605258 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The central player for chromosome segregation in both mitosis and meiosis is the macromolecular kinetochore structure, which is assembled by >100 structural and regulatory proteins on centromere DNA. Kinetochores play a crucial role in cell division by connecting chromosomal DNA and microtubule polymers. This connection helps in the proper segregation and alignment of chromosomes. Additionally, kinetochores can act as a signaling hub, regulating the start of anaphase through the spindle assembly checkpoint, and controlling the movement of chromosomes during anaphase. However, the role of various kinetochore proteins in plant meiosis has only been recently elucidated, and these proteins differ in their functionality from those found in animals. In this review, our current knowledge of the functioning of plant kinetochore proteins in meiosis will be summarized. In addition, the functional similarities and differences of core kinetochore proteins in meiosis between plants and other species are discussed, and the potential applications of manipulating certain kinetochore genes in meiosis for breeding purposes are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Di Zhou
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (K.-D.Z.); (C.-X.Z.)
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (H.-C.B.); (J.-C.D.); (H.-Y.Q.); (Y.-L.J.)
| | - Cai-Xia Zhang
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (K.-D.Z.); (C.-X.Z.)
| | - Fu-Rong Niu
- College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Hao-Chen Bai
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (H.-C.B.); (J.-C.D.); (H.-Y.Q.); (Y.-L.J.)
| | - Dan-Dan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Jia-Cheng Deng
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (H.-C.B.); (J.-C.D.); (H.-Y.Q.); (Y.-L.J.)
| | - Hong-Yuan Qian
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (H.-C.B.); (J.-C.D.); (H.-Y.Q.); (Y.-L.J.)
| | - Yun-Lei Jiang
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (H.-C.B.); (J.-C.D.); (H.-Y.Q.); (Y.-L.J.)
| | - Wei Ma
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China; (K.-D.Z.); (C.-X.Z.)
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Rafiei N, Ronceret A. Crossover interference mechanism: New lessons from plants. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1156766. [PMID: 37274744 PMCID: PMC10236007 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1156766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are the source of our understanding of several fundamental biological principles. It is well known that Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of Genetics in peas and that maize was used for the discovery of transposons by Barbara McClintock. Plant models are still useful for the understanding of general key biological concepts. In this article, we will focus on discussing the recent plant studies that have shed new light on the mysterious mechanisms of meiotic crossover (CO) interference, heterochiasmy, obligatory CO, and CO homeostasis. Obligatory CO is necessary for the equilibrated segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis. The tight control of the different male and female CO rates (heterochiasmy) enables both the maximization and minimization of genome shuffling. An integrative model can now predict these observed aspects of CO patterning in plants. The mechanism proposed considers the Synaptonemal Complex as a canalizing structure that allows the diffusion of a class I CO limiting factor linearly on synapsed bivalents. The coarsening of this limiting factor along the SC explains the interfering spacing between COs. The model explains the observed coordinated processes between synapsis, CO interference, CO insurance, and CO homeostasis. It also easily explains heterochiasmy just considering the different male and female SC lengths. This mechanism is expected to be conserved in other species.
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