Mechanism and regulation of meiotic recombination initiation

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2014 Oct 16;7(1):a016634. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a016634.

Abstract

Meiotic recombination involves the formation and repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) catalyzed by the conserved Spo11 protein. This review summarizes recent studies pertaining to the formation of meiotic DSBs, including the mechanism of DNA cleavage by Spo11, proteins required for break formation, and mechanisms that control the location, timing, and number of DSBs. Where appropriate, findings in different organisms are discussed to highlight evolutionary conservation or divergence.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded*
  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Meiosis / physiology*
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Recombination, Genetic / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • meiotic recombination protein SPO11