Abstract
Homologous recombination (HR) is required to promote both correct chromosome segregation and genetic variation during meiosis. For this to be successful recombination intermediates must be resolved to generate reciprocal exchanges or ‘crossovers’ between the homologous chromosomes (homologues) during the first meiotic division. Crossover recombination promotes faithful chromosome segregation by establishing connections (chiasmata) between the homologues, which help guide their proper bipolar alignment on the meiotic spindle. Recent studies of meiotic recombination in both the budding and fission yeasts have established that there are at least two pathways for generating crossovers. One pathway involves the resolution of fully ligated four-way DNA junctions [HJs (Holliday junctions)] by an as yet unidentified endonuclease. The second pathway appears to involve the cleavage of the precursors of ligated HJs, namely displacement (D) loops and unligated/nicked HJs, by the Mus81-Eme1/Mms4 endonuclease.
- chiasma
- crossover
- Holliday junction
- homologous recombination (HR)
- meiosis
- Mus81
Footnotes
The Nucleus and Gene Expression: A Focus Topic at BioScience2005, held at SECC Glasgow, U.K., 17–21 July 2005. Edited by W. Bickmore (Edinburgh, U.K.), R. Borts (Leicester, U.K.), J. Cáceres (Edinburgh, U.K.), A. Maxwell (John Innes Centre, Norwich, U.K.), S. Newbury (Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.), D. Wigley (Cancer Research London, U.K.) and A. Willis (Nottingham, U.K.).
Abbreviations: D-loop, displacement loop; HJ, Holliday junction; dHJ, double HJ; DSB, double-strand break; HR, homologous recombination; MMR, mismatch repair; SDSA, synthesis-dependent strand annealing; SEI, single end invasion
- © 2005 The Biochemical Society
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October 2005
Volume: 33 Issue: 6
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