Competing crossover pathways act during meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the MSH4-MSH5, MLH1-MLH3, and MUS81-MMS4 complexes act to promote crossing over during meiosis. MSH4-MSH5, but not MUS81-MMS4, promotes crossovers that display interference. A role for MLH1-MLH3 in crossover control is less clear partly because mlh1Delta mutants retain crossover interference yet display a decrease in crossing over that is only slightly less severe than that seen in msh4Delta and msh5Delta mutants. We analyzed the effects of msh5Delta, mlh1Delta, and mms4Delta single, double, and triple mutants on meiotic crossing over at four consecutive genetic intervals on chromosome XV using newly developed computer software. mlh1Delta mms4Delta double mutants displayed the largest decrease in crossing over (13- to 15-fold) of all mutant combinations, yet these strains displayed relatively high spore viability (42%). In contrast, msh5Delta mms4Delta and msh5Delta mms4Delta mlh1Delta mutants displayed smaller decreases in crossing over (4- to 6-fold); however, spore viability (18-19%) was lower in these strains than in mlh1Delta mms4Delta strains. These data suggest that meiotic crossing over can occur in yeast through three distinct crossover pathways. In one pathway, MUS81-MMS4 promotes interference-independent crossing over; in a second pathway, both MSH4-MSH5 and MLH1-MLH3 promote interference-dependent crossovers. A third pathway, which appears to be repressed by MSH4-MSH5, yields deleterious crossovers.
Argueso
Juan Lucas
JL
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2703, USA.
Wanat
Jennifer
J
Gemici
Zekeriyya
Z
Alani
Eric
E
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D045585:Flap Endonucleases; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D009154:Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C088859:MLH1 protein, S cerevisiae; C094801:MSH5 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D045585:Flap Endonucleases; C112337:MMS4 protein, S cerevisiae; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1