The Hop2 and Mnd1 proteins act in concert with Rad51 and Dmc1 in meiotic recombination.
During the first meiotic division, homologous chromosomes (homologs) have to separate to opposite poles of the cell to ensure the right complement in the progeny. Homologous recombination provides a mechanism for a genome-wide homology search and physical linkage among the homologs before their orderly segregation. Rad51 and Dmc1 recombinases are the major players in these processes. Disruption of meiosis-specific HOP2 or MND1 genes leads to severe defects in homologous synapsis and an early-stage recombination failure resulting in sterility. Here we show that mouse Hop2 can efficiently form D-loops, the first recombination intermediates, but this activity is abrogated upon association with Mnd1. Furthermore, the Hop2-Mnd1 heterodimer physically interacts with Rad51 and Dmc1 recombinases and stimulates their activity up to 35-fold. Our data reveal an interplay among Hop2, Mnd1 and Rad51 and Dmc1 in the formation of the first recombination intermediates during meiosis.
Petukhova
Galina V
GV
Genetics and Biochemistry Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 5 Memorial Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Pezza
Roberto J
RJ
Vanevski
Filip
F
Ploquin
Mickael
M
Masson
Jean-Yves
JY
Camerini-Otero
R Daniel
RD
D000818:Animals; D020029:Base Pairing; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D028044:Phosphate-Binding Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; D045522:Recombinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C513032:Dmc1 protein, mouse; C501202:Hop2 protein, mouse; C501203:Mnd1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D028044:Phosphate-Binding Proteins; D045522:Recombinases; D004247:DNA; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; C495154:Rad51 protein, mouse