title: Two novel proteins recruited by synaptonemal complex protein 1 (SYCP1) are at the centre of meiosis.
abstract: Completion of meiosis in mammals depends on the formation of the synaptonemal complex, a tripartite structure that physically links homologous chromosomes during prophase I. Several components of the synaptonemal complex are known, including constituents of the cohesin core, the axial/lateral element and the transverse filaments. No protein has previously been identified as an exclusive component of the central element. Mutations in some synaptonemal-complex proteins results in impaired meiosis. In humans, cases of male infertility have been associated with failure to build the synaptonemal complex. To search for new components of the meiotic machinery, we have used data from microarray expression profiling and found two proteins localising solely to the central element of the mammalian synaptonemal complex. These new proteins, SYCE1 and CESC1, interact with the transverse filament protein SYCP1, and their localisation to the central element appears to depend on recruitment by SYCP1. This suggests a role for SYCE1 and CESC1 in synaptonemal-complex assembly, and perhaps also stability and recombination.
authors.affiliation: MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speed
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ollinger
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alsheimer
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gautier
authors.forename: Klio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maratou
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Höög
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benavente
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C504910:SYCE1 protein, mouse; C504911:SYCE2 protein, mouse; C489754:Sycp1 protein, mouse; C490062:Sycp3 protein, mouse