RTEL-1 enforces meiotic crossover interference and homeostasis.
Meiotic crossovers (COs) are tightly regulated to ensure that COs on the same chromosome are distributed far apart (crossover interference, COI) and that at least one CO is formed per homolog pair (CO homeostasis). CO formation is controlled in part during meiotic double-strand break (DSB) creation in Caenorhabditis elegans, but a second level of control must also exist because meiotic DSBs outnumber COs. We show that the antirecombinase RTEL-1 is required to prevent excess meiotic COs, probably by promoting meiotic synthesis-dependent strand annealing. Two distinct classes of meiotic COs are increased in rtel-1 mutants, and COI and homeostasis are compromised. We propose that RTEL-1 implements the second level of CO control by promoting noncrossovers.
Youds
Jillian L
JL
DNA Damage Response Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, Clare Hall, South Mimms, EN6 3LD, UK.
Mets
David G
DG
McIlwraith
Michael J
MJ
Martin
Julie S
JS
Ward
Jordan D
JD
ONeil
Nigel J
NJ
Rose
Ann M
AM
West
Stephen C
SC
Meyer
Barbara J
BJ
Boulton
Simon J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002842:Chromatids / Q000235:genetics; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004260:DNA Repair; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D008540:Meiosis; D009154:Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D018509:DNA, Helminth; C544458:Dpy-28 protein, C elegans; C533853:ZHP-3 protein, C elegans; C532891:rcq-5 protein, C elegans; D004265:DNA Helicases