title: Meiosis-specific noncoding RNA mediates robust pairing of homologous chromosomes in meiosis.
abstract: Pairing and recombination of homologous chromosomes are essential for ensuring reductional segregation in meiosis. However, the mechanisms by which chromosomes recognize their homologous partners are poorly understood. Here, we report that the sme2 gene encodes a meiosis-specific noncoding RNA that mediates homologous recognition in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The sme2 locus shows robust pairing from early in meiotic prophase. The sme2 RNA transcripts accumulate at their respective gene loci and greatly enhance pairing of homologous loci: Deletion of the sme2 sequence eliminates this robust pairing, whereas transposition to other chromosomal sites confers robust pairing at those ectopic sites. Thus, we propose that RNA transcripts retained on the chromosome play an active role in recognition of homologous chromosomes for pairing.
authors.affiliation: Advanced ICT Research Institute Kobe, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe 651-2492, Japan.
authors.forename: Da-Qiao
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Kasumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamasa
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Tokuko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
mesh_terms: D023902:Chromosome Pairing; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D008540:Meiosis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011418:Prophase; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C512176:Mmi1 protein, S pombe; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D039221:mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors; C088896:mei2 protein, S pombe