title: Programmed induction of DNA double strand breaks during meiosis: setting up communication between DNA and the chromosome structure.
abstract: During the first meiotic prophase, hundreds of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are deliberately self-inflicted along chromosomes in order to promote homologous recombination between homologs. These DSBs, catalyzed by the evolutionary conserved Spo11 protein, are highly regulated. Recent studies in yeast and mammals have identified key components involved in meiotic DSB formation. In mammals, the DNA binding specificity of PRDM9 determines where DSB occur, whereas in yeast, Spo11 acts in regions which one important feature is chromatin accessibility. However, DSB formation requires additional proteins located on chromosome axes, and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, Spp1 has been recently identified to make the link between axes and DSB sites. These recent findings open exciting routes to understanding how the requirement to regulate DSBs along and between homologs is achieved.
authors: Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche UMR218 CNRS, Pavillon Pasteur, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France. Valerie.borde@curie.fr
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Borde
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: de Massy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022004:Chromosome Structures / Q000235:genetics; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D059765:Homologous Recombination / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D053495:Osteopontin; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11; C506895:SPP1 protein, human