Synapsis-defective mutants reveal a correlation between chromosome conformation and the mode of double-strand break repair during Caenorhabditis elegans meiosis.
SYP-3 is a new structural component of the synaptonemal complex (SC) required for the regulation of chromosome synapsis. Both chromosome morphogenesis and nuclear organization are altered throughout the germlines of syp-3 mutants. Here, our analysis of syp-3 mutants provides insights into the relationship between chromosome conformation and the repair of meiotic double-strand breaks (DSBs). Although crossover recombination is severely reduced in syp-3 mutants, the production of viable offspring accompanied by the disappearance of RAD-51 foci suggests that DSBs are being repaired in these synapsis-defective mutants. Our studies indicate that once interhomolog recombination is impaired, both intersister recombination and nonhomologous end-joining pathways may contribute to repair during germline meiosis. Moreover, our studies suggest that the conformation of chromosomes may influence the mode of DSB repair employed during meiosis.
Smolikov
Sarit
S
Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Eizinger
Andreas
A
Hurlburt
Allison
A
Rogers
Eric
E
Villeneuve
Anne M
AM
Colaiácovo
Mónica P
MP
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D023902:Chromosome Pairing / Q000235:genetics*; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000235:genetics