The meiotic recombination checkpoint is regulated by checkpoint rad+ genes in fission yeast.
During the course of meiotic prophase, intrinsic double-strand breaks (DSBs) must be repaired before the cell can engage in meiotic nuclear division. Here we investigate the mechanism that controls the meiotic progression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe that have accumulated excess meiotic DSBs. A meiotic recombination-defective mutant, meu13Delta, shows a delay in meiotic progression. This delay is dependent on rec12+, namely on DSB formation. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that meiotic DSB repair in meu13Delta was retarded. We also found that the delay in entering nuclear division was dependent on the checkpoint rad+, cds1+ and mek1+ (the meiotic paralog of Cds1/Chk2). This implies that these genes are involved in a checkpoint that provides time to repair DSBs. Consistently, the induction of an excess of extrinsic DSBs by ionizing radiation delayed meiotic progression in a rad17(+)-dependent manner. dmc1Delta also shows meiotic delay, however, this delay is independent of rec12+ and checkpoint rad+. We propose that checkpoint monitoring of the status of meiotic DSB repair exists in fission yeast and that defects other than DSB accumulation can cause delays in meiotic progression.
Shimada
Midori
M
Department of Molecular Genetics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Nabeshima
Kentaro
K
Tougan
Takahiro
T
Nojima
Hiroshi
H
D015153:Blotting, Western; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D005720:Gamma Rays; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D008540:Meiosis; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004720:Endonucleases; D011494:Protein Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C433032:Meu13 protein, S pombe; C456270:rec12 protein, S pombe; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11; C069930:rad9 protein; C578636:Cds1 protein, S pombe; C456840:rad3 protein, S pombe; C499354:rad1 protein, S pombe