scholarly journals Modulation of Prdm9-controlled meiotic chromosome asynapsis overrides hybrid sterility in mice

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sona Gregorova ◽  
Vaclav Gergelits ◽  
Irena Chvatalova ◽  
Tanmoy Bhattacharyya ◽  
Barbora Valiskova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Hybrid Sterility ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Recombination Hotspots ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Reproductive Isolation Mechanisms ◽  
Meiotic Recombination Hotspots ◽  
Isolation Mechanisms

Hybrid sterility is one of the reproductive isolation mechanisms leading to speciation. Prdm9, the only known vertebrate hybrid-sterility gene, causes failure of meiotic chromosome synapsis and infertility in male hybrids that are the offspring of two mouse subspecies. Within species, Prdm9 determines the sites of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and meiotic recombination hotspots. To investigate the relation between Prdm9-controlled meiotic arrest and asynapsis, we inserted random stretches of consubspecific homology on several autosomal pairs in sterile hybrids, and analyzed their ability to form synaptonemal complexes and to rescue male fertility. Twenty-seven or more megabases of consubspecific (belonging to the same subspecies) homology fully restored synapsis in a given autosomal pair, and we predicted that two or more DSBs within symmetric hotspots per chromosome are necessary for successful meiosis. We hypothesize that impaired recombination between evolutionarily diverged chromosomes could function as one of the mechanisms of hybrid sterility occurring in various sexually reproducing species.

scholarly journals Modulation of Prdm9-controlled meiotic chromosome asynapsis overrides hybrid sterility in mice

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sona Gregorova ◽  
Vaclav Gergelits ◽  
Irena Chvatalova ◽  
Tanmoy Bhattacharyya ◽  
Barbora Valiskova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Hybrid Sterility ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Recombination Hotspots ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Reproductive Isolation Mechanisms

AbstractThe infertility of hybrids between closely related species is one of the reproductive isolation mechanisms leading to speciation. Prdm9, the only known vertebrate hybrid sterility gene causes failure of meiotic chromosome synapsis and infertility in male hybrids between mouse strains derived from two mouse subspecies. Within species Prdm9 determines the sites of programmed DNA double-strand breaks and meiotic recombination hotspots. To investigate the relation between Prdm9-controlled meiotic arrest and asynapsis, we inserted random stretches of consubspecific homology on several autosomal pairs in sterile hybrids and analyzed their ability to form synaptonemal complexes and rescue male fertility. Twenty-seven or more Mb of consubspecific homology fully restored synapsis in a given autosomal pair and we predicted that two symmetric DSBs or more per chromosome are necessary for successful meiosis. We hypothesize that impaired recombination between evolutionary diverged homologous chromosomes could function as one of the mechanisms of hybrid sterility occurring in various sexually reproducing species.

scholarly journals Cisplatin-induced DNA double-strand breaks promote meiotic chromosome synapsis in PRDM9-controlled mouse hybrid sterility

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Wang ◽  
Barbora Valiskova ◽  
Jiri Forejt
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Hybrid Sterility ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Hybrid Male ◽  
Meiotic Arrest ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Hybrid Genome ◽  
Pr Domain

PR domain containing 9 (Prdm9) is specifying hotspots of meiotic recombination but in hybrids between two mouse subspecies Prdm9 controls failure of meiotic chromosome synapsis and hybrid male sterility. We have previously reported that Prdm9-controlled asynapsis and meiotic arrest are conditioned by the inter-subspecific heterozygosity of the hybrid genome and we presumed that the insufficient number of properly repaired PRDM9-dependent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) causes asynapsis of chromosomes and meiotic arrest (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib18">Gregorova et al., 2018</xref>). We now extend the evidence for the lack of properly processed DSBs by improving meiotic chromosome synapsis with exogenous DSBs. A single injection of chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin increased frequency of RPA and DMC1 foci at the zygotene stage of sterile hybrids, enhanced homolog recognition and increased the proportion of spermatocytes with fully synapsed homologs at pachytene. The results bring a new evidence for a DSB-dependent mechanism of synapsis failure and infertility of intersubspecific hybrids.

scholarly journals De novo deletion mutations at recombination hotspots in mouse germlines

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Lukaszewicz ◽  
Julian Lange ◽  
Scott Keeney ◽  
Maria Jasin
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Atm Kinase ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Recombination Hotspots ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Meiotic Dsbs ◽  
Meiotic Recombination Hotspots

AbstractNumerous DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) arise genome-wide during meiosis to ensure recombination between homologous chromosomes, which is required for gamete formation1,2. The ATM kinase plays a central role in controlling both the number and position of DSBs3-5, but the consequences of deregulated DSB formation have not been explored. Here we discovered that an unanticipated type of DNA deletion arises at meiotic recombination hotspots in the absence of ATM. Deletions form via joining of ends from two closely-spaced DSBs at adjacent hotspots or within a single hotspot. Deletions are also detected in normal cells, albeit at much lower frequency, revealing that the meiotic genome has a hidden potential for deletion events. Remarkably, a subset of deletions contain insertions that likely originated from DNA fragments released from hotspots on other chromosomes. Moreover, although deletions form primarily within one chromosome, joining between homologous chromosomes is also observed. This predicts in turn gross chromosome rearrangements, with evidence of damage to multiple chromatids and aborted gap repair. Thus, multiple nearby meiotic DSBs are normally suppressed by ATM to protect genomic integrity. We expect the de novo germline mutations we observe to affect human health and genome evolution.

scholarly journals Reproductive Isolation Between Taxonomically Controversial Forms of the Gray Voles (Microtus, Rodentia; Arvicolinae): Cytological Mechanisms and Taxonomical Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana I. Bikchurina ◽  
Fedor N. Golenishchev ◽  
Elena A. Kizilova ◽  
Ahmad Mahmoudi ◽  
Pavel M. Borodin
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Sterility ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
F1 Hybrids ◽  
Phylogenetic Distance ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Male Hybrid

The formation of hybrid sterility is an important stage of speciation. The voles of the genus Microtus, which is the most speciose genus of rodents, provide a good model for studying the cytological mechanisms of hybrid sterility. The voles of the “mystacinus” group of the subgenus Microtus (2n = 54) comprising several recently diverged forms with unclear taxonomic status are especially interesting. To resolve the taxonomic status of Microtus mystacinus and Microtus kermanensis, we crossed both with Microtus rossiaemeridionalis, and M. kermanensis alone with Microtus arvalis “obscurus” and M. transcaspicus and examined the reproductive performance of their F1 hybrids. All interspecies male hybrids were sterile. Female M. kermanensis × M. arvalis and M. kermanensis × M. transcaspicus hybrids were sterile as well. Therefore, M. mystacinus, M. kermanensis, and M. rossiaemeridionalis could be considered valid species. To gain an insight into the cytological mechanisms of male hybrid sterility, we carried out a histological analysis of spermatogenesis and a cytological analysis of chromosome synapsis, recombination, and epigenetic chromatin modifications in the germ cells of the hybrids using immunolocalization of key meiotic proteins. The hybrids showed wide variation in the onset of spermatogenesis arrest stage, from mature (although abnormal) spermatozoa to spermatogonia only. Chromosome asynapsis was apparently the main cause of meiotic arrest. The degree of asynapsis varied widely across cells, individuals, and the crosses—from partial asynapsis of several small bivalents to complete asynapsis of all chromosomes. The asynapsis was accompanied by a delayed repair of DNA double-strand breaks marked by RAD51 antibodies and silencing of unpaired chromatin marked by γH2A.X antibodies. Overall, the severity of disturbances in spermatogenesis in general and in chromosome synapsis in particular increased in the hybrids with an increase in the phylogenetic distance between their parental species.

scholarly journals Persistent DNA-break potential near telomeres increases initiation of meiotic recombination on short chromosomes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijayalakshmi V. Subramanian ◽  
Xuan Zhu ◽  
Tovah E. Markowitz ◽  
Luis A. Vale-Silva ◽  
Pedro A. San-Segundo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Uniform Size ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Meiotic Crossover ◽  
Differential Retention ◽  
Complex Deposition ◽  
Stimulation Of

SUMMARYFaithful meiotic chromosome inheritance and fertility relies on the stimulation of meiotic crossover recombination by potentially genotoxic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). To avoid excessive damage, feedback mechanisms down-regulate DSBs on chromosomes that have successfully initiated crossover repair. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this regulation requires the removal of the conserved DSB-promoting protein Hop1/HORMAD during chromosome synapsis. Here, we identify privileged end-adjacent regions (EARs) spanning roughly 100 Kb near all telomeres that escape DSB downregulation. These regions retain Hop1 and continue to break in pachynema despite normal synaptonemal complex deposition. Differential retention of Hop1 requires the disassemblase Pch2/TRIP13, which preferentially removes Hop1 from telomere-distant sequences, and is modulated by the histone deacetylase Sir2 and the nucleoporin Nup2. Importantly, the uniform size of EARs among chromosomes contributes to disproportionately high DSB and repair signals on short chromosomes in pachynema, suggesting that EARs partially underlie the curiously high recombination rate of short chromosomes.

scholarly journals Tex19.1 Regulates Meiotic DNA Double Strand Break Frequency in Mouse Spermatocytes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Crichton ◽  
Christopher J. Playfoot ◽  
Marie MacLennan ◽  
David Read ◽  
Howard J. Cooke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Meiotic Recombination ◽  
Homologous Chromosome ◽  
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Genetic Pathway ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Meiotic Dsbs

AbstractMeiosis relies on the SPO11 endonuclease to generate the recombinogenic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) required for homologous chromosome synapsis and segregation. The number of meiotic DSBs needs to be sufficient to allow chromosomes to search for and find their homologs, but not excessive to the point of causing genome instability. Here we report that meiotic DSB frequency in mouse spermatocytes is regulated by the mammal-specific gene Tex19.1. We show that the chromosome asynapsis previously reported in Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes is preceded by reduced numbers of recombination foci in leptotene and zygotene. Tex19.1 is required for the generation of normal levels of Spo11-dependent DNA damage during leptotene, but not for upstream events such as MEI4 foci formation or accumulation of H3K4me3 at recombination hotspots. Furthermore, we show that mice carrying mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR2, a TEX19.1-interacting partner, phenocopy the Tex19.1-/- recombination defects. These data show that Tex19.1 and Ubr2 are required for mouse spermatocytes to generate sufficient meiotic DSBs to ensure that homology search is consistently successful, and reveal a hitherto unknown genetic pathway regulating meiotic DSB frequency in mammals.Author SummaryMeiosis is a specialised type of cell division that occurs during sperm and egg development to reduce chromosome number prior to fertilisation. Recombination is a key step in meiosis as it facilitates the pairing of homologous chromosomes prior to their reductional division, and generates new combinations of genetic alleles for transmission in the next generation. Regulating the amount of recombination is key for successful meiosis: too much will likely cause mutations, chromosomal re-arrangements and genetic instability, whereas too little causes defects in homologous chromosome pairing prior to the meiotic divisions. This study identifies a genetic pathway requiredto generate robust meiotic recombination in mouse spermatocytes. We show that male mice with mutations in Tex19.1 or Ubr2, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase that interacts with TEX19.1, have defects in generating normal levels of meiotic recombination. We show that the defects in these mutants impact on the recombination process at the stage when programmed DNA double strand breaks are being made. This defect likely contributes to the chromosome synapsis and meiotic progression phenotypes previously described in these mutant mice. This study has implications for our understanding of how this fundamental aspect of genetics and inheritance is controlled.

scholarly journals Lessons from the meiotic recombination landscape of the ZMM deficient budding yeast Lachancea waltii

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Dutreux ◽  
Abhishek Dutta ◽  
Emilien Peltier ◽  
Sabrina Bibi-Triki ◽  
Anne Friedrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Recombination ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Crossover Interference ◽  
Recombination Hotspots ◽  
Elevated Frequency ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Meiotic recombination has been deeply characterized in a few model species only, notably in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, most members of the ZMM pathway that implements meiotic crossover interference in S. cerevisiae have been lost in Lachancea yeast species after the divergence of Lachancea kluyveri from the rest of the clade. This suggests major differences in the control of crossover distribution. After investigating meiosis in L. kluyveri, we determined the meiotic recombination landscape of Lachancea waltii and identified several characteristics that should help understand better the underlying mechanisms. Such characteristics include systematic regions of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in L. waltii hybrids, compatible with dysregulated Spo11-mediated DNA double strand breaks (DSB) independently of meiosis. They include a higher recombination rate in L. waltii than in L. kluyveri despite the lack of multiple ZMM pro-crossover factors. L. waltii exhibits an elevated frequency of zero-crossover bivalents as L. kluyveri but opposite to S. cerevisiae. L. waltii gene conversion tracts lengths are comparable to those observed in S. cerevisiae and shorter than in L. kluyveri despite the lack of Mlh2, a factor limiting conversion tracts size in S. cerevisiae. L. waltii recombination hotspots are not shared with either S. cerevisiae or L. kluyveri, showing that meiotic recombination hotspots can evolve at a rather limited evolutionary scale within budding yeasts. Finally, in line with the loss of several ZMM genes, we found only residual crossover interference in L. waltii likely coming from the modest interference existing between recombination precursors.

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