Drosophila ERCC1 is required for a subset of MEI-9-dependent meiotic crossovers.
Drosophila MEI-9 is the catalytic subunit of a DNA structure-specific endonuclease required for nucleotide excision repair (NER). The enzymatic activity of this endonuclease during NER requires the presence of a second, noncatalytic subunit called ERCC1. In addition to its role in NER, MEI-9 is required for the generation of most meiotic crossovers. To better understand the role of MEI-9 in crossover formation, we report here the characterization of the Drosophila Ercc1 gene. We created an Ercc1 mutant through homologous gene targeting. We find that Ercc1 mutants are identical to mei-9 mutants in sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, but have a less severe reduction in the number of meiotic crossovers. MEI-9 protein levels are reduced in Ercc1 mutants; however, overexpression of MEI-9 is not sufficient to restore meiotic crossing over in Ercc1 mutants. We conclude that MEI-9 can generate some meiotic crossovers in an ERCC1-independent manner.
Radford
Sarah J
SJ
Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
Goley
Elizabeth
E
Baxter
Kimberly
K
McMahan
Susan
S
Sekelsky
Jeff
J
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D004249:DNA Damage; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000737:chemistry*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004720:Endonucleases