title: A synaptonemal complex protein promotes homology-independent centromere coupling.
abstract: We describe a process in meiotic cells of budding yeast in which chromosomes become joined together in pairs at their centromeres independent of chromosomal homology. These centromeric interactions depend on the synaptonemal complex component Zip1. During meiosis in wild-type diploids, centromere couples are initially nonhomologous and then undergo switching until all couples involve homologs. This transition to homologous coupling depends on Spo11, a protein required for the initiation of meiotic recombination. Regions of synaptonemal complex assembled early in meiosis are often centromere-associated. We propose that centromere coupling facilitates homolog pairing and promotes synapsis initiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi
authors.forename: G Shirleen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Roeder
mesh_terms: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D023902:Chromosome Pairing; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004950:Esterases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018386:Kinetochores; D008540:Meiosis; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000502:physiology*; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004950:Esterases; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11; C477822:CTF19 protein, S cerevisiae; C433703:Ndj1 protein, S cerevisiae; C090118:Zip1 protein, S cerevisiae