title: Meiotic chromosome homology search involves modifications of the nuclear envelope protein Matefin/SUN-1.
abstract: Genome haploidization during meiosis depends on recognition and association of parental homologous chromosomes. The C. elegans SUN/KASH domain proteins Matefin/SUN-1 and ZYG-12 have a conserved role in this process. They bridge the nuclear envelope, connecting the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm to transmit forces that allow chromosome movement and homolog pairing and prevent nonhomologous synapsis. Here, we show that Matefin/SUN-1 forms rapidly moving aggregates at putative chromosomal attachment sites in the meiotic transition zone (TZ). We analyzed requirements for aggregate formation and identified multiple phosphotarget residues in the nucleoplasmic domain of Matefin/SUN-1. These CHK-2 dependent phosphorylations occur in leptotene/zygotene, diminish during pachytene and are involved in pairing. Mimicking phosphorylation causes an extended TZ and univalents at diakinesis. Our data suggest that the properties of the nuclear envelope are altered during the time window when homologs are sorted and Matefin/SUN-1 aggregates form, thereby controling the movement, homologous pairing and interhomolog recombination of chromosomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chromosome Biology, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, 1030-Vienna, Austria. alexandra.penkner@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Penkner
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fridkin
authors.forename: Jiradet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gloggnitzer
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baudrimont
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Machacek
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woglar
authors.forename: Edina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csaszar
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasierbek
authors.forename: Gustav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ammerer
authors.forename: Yosef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gruenbaum
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jantsch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D023902:Chromosome Pairing; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008540:Meiosis; D049469:Meiotic Prophase I; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; C514114:sun-1 protein, C elegans; D012694:Serine; D011494:Protein Kinases; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; C444421:CHK-2 protein, C elegans