title: [What defines the genetic map? The specification of meiotic recombination sites].
abstract: During meiosis, homologous reciprocal recombination events or crossing-over determine the genetic map and are known not to be randomly distributed in the genome. Recent studies in yeasts and mammals reveal some key features of the molecular mechanism involved in this distribution. Through different molecular processes, specific histone post-translational modifications are induced at specific genomic sites, called hotspots, where initiation of meiotic recombination takes place. These sites are some transcription promoters in S. cerevisiae or binding sites for transcription factors in S. pombe, where chromatin modifiers are recruited. In mammals, the sites are DNA sequences recognized by the PRDM9 protein which has the ability both to bind DNA and to induce the trimethylation of the lysine 4 of histone H3. The properties of the chromatin at these sites, and potentially the binding of additional factors, allow the recruitment of proteins involved in the formation of DNA double strand breaks that initiate meiotic recombination.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique Humaine, UPR1142/CNRS, 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34396 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: Vérane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sommermeyer
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borde
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Massy
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000502:physiology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D008540:Meiosis; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C518938:Spo11 protein, S cerevisiae; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11