title: Topoisomerase II mediates meiotic crossover interference.
abstract: Spatial patterning is a ubiquitous feature of biological systems. Meiotic crossovers provide an interesting example, defined by the classic phenomenon of crossover interference. Here we identify a molecular pathway for interference by analysing crossover patterns in budding yeast. Topoisomerase II plays a central role, thus identifying a new function for this critical molecule. SUMOylation (of topoisomerase II and axis component Red1) and ubiquitin-mediated removal of SUMOylated proteins are also required. The findings support the hypothesis that crossover interference involves accumulation, relief and redistribution of mechanical stress along the protein/DNA meshwork of meiotic chromosome axes, with topoisomerase II required to adjust spatial relationships among DNA segments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Liangran
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Shunxin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soogil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, South Korea.
authors.forename: Keun P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kleckner
mesh_terms: D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008540:Meiosis; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D058207:Sumoylation
chemical_list: D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II