RNAi and heterochromatin repress centromeric meiotic recombination
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RNAi and heterochromatin repress centromeric meiotic recombination. / Ellermeier, Chad; Higuchi, Emily C; Phadnis, Naina; Holm, Laerke; Geelhood, Jennifer L; Thon, Genevieve; Smith, Gerald R.
I: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS), Bind 107, Nr. 19, 11.05.2010, s. 8701-5.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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T1 - RNAi and heterochromatin repress centromeric meiotic recombination
AU - Ellermeier, Chad
AU - Higuchi, Emily C
AU - Phadnis, Naina
AU - Holm, Laerke
AU - Geelhood, Jennifer L
AU - Thon, Genevieve
AU - Smith, Gerald R
PY - 2010/5/11
Y1 - 2010/5/11
N2 - During meiosis, the formation of viable haploid gametes from diploid precursors requires that each homologous chromosome pair be properly segregated to produce an exact haploid set of chromosomes. Genetic recombination, which provides a physical connection between homologous chromosomes, is essential in most species for proper homologue segregation. Nevertheless, recombination is repressed specifically in and around the centromeres of chromosomes, apparently because rare centromeric (or pericentromeric) recombination events, when they do occur, can disrupt proper segregation and lead to genetic disabilities, including birth defects. The basis by which centromeric meiotic recombination is repressed has been largely unknown. We report here that, in fission yeast, RNAi functions and Clr4-Rik1 (histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase) are required for repression of centromeric recombination. Surprisingly, one mutant derepressed for recombination in the heterochromatic mating-type region during meiosis and several mutants derepressed for centromeric gene expression during mitotic growth are not derepressed for centromeric recombination during meiosis. These results reveal a complex relation between types of repression by heterochromatin. Our results also reveal a previously undemonstrated role for RNAi and heterochromatin in the repression of meiotic centromeric recombination and, potentially, in the prevention of birth defects by maintenance of proper chromosome segregation during meiosis.
AB - During meiosis, the formation of viable haploid gametes from diploid precursors requires that each homologous chromosome pair be properly segregated to produce an exact haploid set of chromosomes. Genetic recombination, which provides a physical connection between homologous chromosomes, is essential in most species for proper homologue segregation. Nevertheless, recombination is repressed specifically in and around the centromeres of chromosomes, apparently because rare centromeric (or pericentromeric) recombination events, when they do occur, can disrupt proper segregation and lead to genetic disabilities, including birth defects. The basis by which centromeric meiotic recombination is repressed has been largely unknown. We report here that, in fission yeast, RNAi functions and Clr4-Rik1 (histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase) are required for repression of centromeric recombination. Surprisingly, one mutant derepressed for recombination in the heterochromatic mating-type region during meiosis and several mutants derepressed for centromeric gene expression during mitotic growth are not derepressed for centromeric recombination during meiosis. These results reveal a complex relation between types of repression by heterochromatin. Our results also reveal a previously undemonstrated role for RNAi and heterochromatin in the repression of meiotic centromeric recombination and, potentially, in the prevention of birth defects by maintenance of proper chromosome segregation during meiosis.
KW - Centromere
KW - Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
KW - Chromosomes, Fungal
KW - DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
KW - Heterochromatin
KW - Histones
KW - Lysine
KW - Meiosis
KW - Methyltransferases
KW - Mutation
KW - RNA Interference
KW - Recombination, Genetic
KW - Repressor Proteins
KW - Schizosaccharomyces
KW - Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
KW - Transcription, Genetic
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0914160107
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0914160107
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20421495
VL - 107
SP - 8701
EP - 8705
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 19
ER -
ID: 33344513