title: Meiotic recombination in mammals: localization and regulation.
abstract: During meiosis, a programmed induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) leads to the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. These exchanges increase genome diversity and are essential for proper chromosome segregation at the first meiotic division. Recent findings have highlighted an unexpected molecular control of the distribution of meiotic DSBs in mammals by a rapidly evolving gene, PR domain-containing 9 (PRDM9), and genome-wide analyses have facilitated the characterization of meiotic DSB sites at unprecedented resolution. In addition, the identification of new players in DSB repair processes has allowed the delineation of recombination pathways that have two major outcomes, crossovers and non-crossovers, which have distinct mechanistic roles and consequences for genome evolution.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Unité Propre de Recherche 1142, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34396 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baudat
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Massy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D002875:Chromosomes; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D016678:Genome; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis
chemical_list: D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C544431:PRDM9 protein, human