Modifying histones and initiating meiotic recombination; new answers to an old question.
It is well documented that the formation of the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that initiate meiotic recombination is influenced by chromatin and larger scale chromosome organization, but the molecular nature of this influence has remained elusive. Several recent studies, including (this issue of Cell), shed light on this issue by revealing roles for posttranslational histone modifications in promoting DSB formation.
Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, Box 97, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Shohreh
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Maleki
Scott
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Keeney
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry*; D008540:Meiosis; D008954:Models, Biological; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D004247:DNA