title: Mutation of the mouse Syce1 gene disrupts synapsis and suggests a link between synaptonemal complex structural components and DNA repair.
abstract: In mammals, the synaptonemal complex is a structure required to complete crossover recombination. Although suggested by cytological work, in vivo links between the structural proteins of the synaptonemal complex and the proteins of the recombination process have not previously been made. The central element of the synaptonemal complex is traversed by DNA at sites of recombination and presents a logical place to look for interactions between these components. There are four known central element proteins, three of which have previously been mutated. Here, we complete the set by creating a null mutation in the Syce1 gene in mouse. The resulting disruption of synapsis in these animals has allowed us to demonstrate a biochemical interaction between the structural protein SYCE2 and the repair protein RAD51. In normal meiosis, this interaction may be responsible for promoting homologous synapsis from sites of recombination.
authors.affiliation: MRC Human Genetics Unit and Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolcun-Filas
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speed
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Massy
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benavente
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023902:Chromosome Pairing; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D005718:Gametogenesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C504910:SYCE1 protein, mouse; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; C495154:Rad51 protein, mouse