• BMB Reports
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.607-612
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• 2019

During meiosis, programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired via recombination pathways that are required for faithful chromosomal segregation and genetic diversity. In meiotic progression, the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway is suppressed and instead meiotic recombination initiated by nucleolytic resection of DSB ends is the major pathway employed. This requires diverse recombinase proteins and regulatory factors involved in the formation of crossovers (COs) and non-crossovers (NCOs). In mitosis, spontaneous DSBs occurring at the G1 phase are predominantly repaired via NHEJ, mediating the joining of DNA ends. The Ku complex binds to these DSB ends, inhibiting additional DSB resection and mediating end joining with Dnl4, Lif1, and Nej1, which join the Ku complex and DSB ends. Here, we report the role of the Ku complex in DSB repair using a physical analysis of recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during meiosis. We found that the Ku complex is not essential for meiotic progression, DSB formation, joint molecule formation, or CO/NCO formation during normal meiosis. Surprisingly, in the absence of the Ku complex and functional Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 (MRX) complex, a large portion of meiotic DSBs was repaired via the recombination pathway to form COs and NCOs. Our data suggested that Ku complex prevents meiotic recombination in the elimination of MRX activity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권11호
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• pp.814-822
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• 2017

Meiotic homologous recombination generates new combinations of preexisting genetic variation and is a crucial process in plant breeding. Within the last decade, our understanding of plant meiotic recombination and genome diversity has advanced considerably. Innovation in DNA sequencing technology has led to the exploration of high-resolution genetic and epigenetic information in plant genomes, which has helped to accelerate plant breeding practices via high-throughput genotyping, and linkage and association mapping. In addition, great advances toward understanding the genetic and epigenetic control mechanisms of meiotic recombination have enabled the expansion of breeding programs and the unlocking of genetic diversity that can be used for crop improvement. This review highlights the recent literature on plant meiotic recombination and discusses the translation of this knowledge to the manipulation of meiotic recombination frequency and location with regards to crop plant breeding.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

유전자 재조합체는 상동염색체간의 예정된 DNA 가닥 전이와 교환이 이루어지는 상동염색체 재조합 과정에 의하여 생성된다. 이 재조합 경로는 DNA 이중 가닥 절단(double-strand breaks, DSBs)에 의해서 개시되며, 전이 과정의 중간단계에서 DNA의 구조적 변이 중간체인 단일 가닥 침투(single-end invasions, SEIs)와 이중 홀리데이 접합(double-Holliday junctions, dHJs)이 형성되어 교차성(crossover, CO) 혹은 비교차성(non-crossover, NCO) 결과물이 만들어진다. 본 연구는 이중 가닥 절단, 단일 가닥 침투, 이중 홀리데이 접합과 같은 재조합 중간체와 재조합 결과물의 구조분석에 초점을 두고, 이를 출아효모에서 인위적으로 이중 가닥 절단을 발생시킬 수 있는 HIS4LEU2 "hot spot" 을 이용한 물리적 분석방법으로 감수분열 재조합 중간체를 규명하였다. 물리적 분석을 위하여 동조화 된 세포에 감수분열을 유도한 후 hot spot 자리를 인식하는 제한효소를 처리하면, 재조합 중간체를 형성하고 있는 DNA 단편들을 Southern 분석법을 통해 탐지 및 정량 할 수 있다. 본 연구는 이 시스템으로 감수분열에서 이중가닥 절단으로부터 기인하는 단일 가닥 침투, 이중 홀리데이 접합 그리고 교차성/비교차성 재조합체로 전이되는 DNA의 구조 다형을 분석할 수 있음을 제시한다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.598-605
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• 2015

The cohesin complex holds sister chromatids together and prevents premature chromosome segregation until the onset of anaphase. Mcd1 (also known as Scc1), the α-kleisin subunit of cohesin, is a key regulatory subunit of the mitotic cohesin complex and is required for maintaining sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome organization, and DNA repair. We investigated the function of Mcd1 in meiosis by ectopically expressing Mcd1 during early meiotic prophase I in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mcd1 partially regulated the progression of meiotic recombination, sister chromatid separation, and nuclear division. DNA physical analysis during meiotic recombination showed that Mcd1 induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) but negatively regulated homologous recombination during DSB repair; Mcd1 expression delayed post-DSB stages, leading to inefficiencies in the DSB-to-joint molecule (JM) transition and subsequent crossover formation. These findings indicate that meiotic cells undergo Mcd1-mediated DSB formation during prophase I, and that residual Mcd1 could regulate the progression of JM formation during meiotic recombination.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.273-283
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• 2022

During meiosis, homologous chromosomes (homologs) pair and undergo genetic recombination via assembly and disassembly of the synaptonemal complex. Meiotic recombination is initiated by excess formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), among which a subset are repaired by reciprocal genetic exchange, called crossovers (COs). COs generate genetic variations across generations, profoundly affecting genetic diversity and breeding. At least one CO between homologs is essential for the first meiotic chromosome segregation, but generally only one and fewer than three inter-homolog COs occur in plants. CO frequency and distribution are biased along chromosomes, suppressed in centromeres, and controlled by pro-CO, anti-CO, and epigenetic factors. Accurate and high-throughput detection of COs is important for our understanding of CO formation and chromosome behavior. Here, we review advanced approaches that enable precise measurement of the location, frequency, and genomic landscapes of COs in plants, with a focus on Arabidopsis thaliana.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.248-255
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• 1999

We have analyzed the MRE3/REC114 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, previously detected in isolation of mutants defective in meiotic recombination. We cloned the MRE3/REC114 gene by complementation of the meiotic recombination defect and it has been mapped to chormosome XIII. The DNA sequence analysis revealed that the MRE3 gene is identical to the REC114 gene. The upstream region of the MRE3/REC114 gene contains a T_4C site, a URS (upstream repression sequence) and a TR (T-rich) box-like sequence, which reside upstream of many meiotic genes. Coincidentally, northern blot analysis indicated that the three sizes of MRE3/REC114 transcripts, 3.4, 1.4 and 1.2 kb, are induced in meiosis. A less abundant transcript of 1.4 kb is detected in both mitotic and meiotic cells, suggesting that it is needed in mitosis as well as meiosis. To examine the role of the MRE3/REC114 gene, we constructed mre3 disruption mutants. Strains carrying an insertion or null deletion of the MRE3/REC114 gene showed slow growth in nutrient medium and the doubling time of these cells increased approximately by 2-fond compared to the wild-type strain. Moreover, the deletion mutant (${\delta}$mre3) displayed no meiotically induced recombination and no viable spores. The mre3/rec114 spore lethality can be suppressed by spo13, a mutation that causes cells to bypass reductional division. The double-stranded breaks (DSBs) which are involved in initiation of meiotic recombination were not detected in the analysis of meiotic chromosomal DNA from the mre3/rec114 disruptant. From these results we suggest that the MRE3/REC114 gene product is essential in normal growth and in early meiotic stages involved in meiotic recombination.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권7호
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• pp.550-556
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• 2016

During meiosis, exchange of DNA segments occurs between paired homologous chromosomes in order to produce recombinant chromosomes, helping to increase genetic diversity within a species. This genetic exchange process is tightly controlled by the eukaryotic RecA homologs Rad51 and Dmc1, which are involved in strand exchange of meiotic recombination, with Rad51 participating specifically in mitotic recombination. Meiotic recombination requires an interaction between homologous chromosomes to repair programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs). In this study, we investigated the budding yeast meiosis-specific proteins Hop2 and Sae3, which function in the Dmc1-dependent pathway. This pathway mediates the homology searching and strand invasion processes. Mek1 kinase participates in switching meiotic recombination from sister bias to homolog bias after DSB formation. In the absence of Hop2 and Sae3, DSBs were produced normally, but showed defects in the DSB-to-single-end invasion transition mediated by Dmc1 and auxiliary factors, and mutant strains failed to complete proper chromosome segregation. However, in the absence of Mek1 kinase activity, Rad51-dependent recombination progressed via sister bias in the $hop2{\Delta}$ or $sae3{\Delta}$ mutants, even in the presence of Dmc1. Thus, Hop2 and Sae3 actively modulate Dmc1-dependent recombination, effectively progressing homolog bias, a process requiring Mek1 kinase activation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.469-475
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• 2020

During meiosis I, programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) occur to promote chromosome pairing and recombination between homologs. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mec1 and Tel1, the orthologs of human ATR and ATM, respectively, regulate events upstream of the cell cycle checkpoint to initiate DNA repair. Tel1^ATM and Mec1^ATR are required for phosphorylating various meiotic proteins during recombination. This study aimed to investigate the role of Tel1^ATM and Mec1^ATR in meiotic prophase via physical analysis of recombination. Tel1^ATM cooperated with Mec1^ATR to mediate DSB-to-single end invasion transition, but negatively regulated DSB formation. Furthermore, Mec1^ATR was required for the formation of interhomolog joint molecules from early prophase, thus establishing a recombination partner choice. Moreover, Mec1^ATR specifically promoted crossover-fated DSB repair. Together, these results suggest that Tel1^ATM and Mec1^ATR function redundantly or independently in all post-DSB stages.