Crossover and noncrossover pathways in mouse meiosis

Mol Cell. 2005 Nov 23;20(4):563-73. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2005.09.021.

Abstract

During meiosis, recombination between homologous chromosomes generates crossover (CR) and noncrossover (NCR) products. CRs establish connections between homologs, whereas intermediates leading to NCRs have been proposed to participate in homologous pairing. How these events are differentiated and regulated remains to be determined. We have developed a strategy to detect, quantify, and map NCRs in parallel to CRs, at the Psmb9 meiotic recombination hot spot, in male and female mouse germ lines. Our results report direct molecular evidence for distinct CR and NCR pathways of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in mouse meiosis based on three observations: both CRs and NCRs require Spo11, NCR products have shorter conversion tracts than CRs, and only CRs require the MutL homolog Mlh1. We show that both products are formed from middle to late pachytene of meiotic prophase and provide evidence for an Mlh1-independent CR pathway, where mismatch repair does not require Mlh1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Crossing Over, Genetic*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Esterases
  • Female
  • Gene Conversion
  • Male
  • Meiosis / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred A
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • Oogenesis / genetics
  • Pachytene Stage / genetics
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / physiology
  • Spermatogenesis / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Mlh1 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proteins
  • LMP-2 protein
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Esterases
  • meiotic recombination protein SPO11
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1