Lateral elements inside synaptonemal complex-like polycomplexes in ndt80 mutants of yeast bind DNA.
The synaptonemal complex (SC) keeps the synapsed homologous chromosomes together during pachytene in meiotic prophase I. Structures that resemble stacks of SCs, polycomplexes, are sometimes found before or after pachytene. We have investigated ndt80 mutants of yeast, which arrest in pachytene. SCs appear normal in spread chromosome preparations, but are only occasionally found in intact nuclei examined in the electron microscope. Instead, large polycomplexes occur in almost every ndt80 mutant nucleus. Immunoelectron microscopy using DNA antibodies show strong preferential labeling to the lateral element parts of the polycomplexes. In situ hybridization using chromosome-specific probes confirms that the chromosomes in ndt80 mutants are paired and attached to the SCs. Our results suggest that polycomplexes can be involved in binding of chromosomes and possibly also in synapsis.
Bhuiyan
Hasanuzzaman
H
Department of Molecular Biology and Functional Genomics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Dahlfors
Gunilla
G
Schmekel
Karin
K
D002467:Cell Nucleus; D023902:Chromosome Pairing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013104:Spheroplasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C097071:NDT80 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA