Recombinational DNA double-strand breaks in mice precede synapsis

Nat Genet. 2001 Mar;27(3):271-6. doi: 10.1038/85830.

Abstract

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, meiotic recombination is initiated by Spo11-dependent double-strand breaks (DSBs), a process that precedes homologous synapsis. Here we use an antibody specific for a phosphorylated histone (gamma-H2AX, which marks the sites of DSBs) to investigate the timing, distribution and Spo11-dependence of meiotic DSBs in the mouse. We show that, as in yeast, recombination in the mouse is initiated by Spo11-dependent DSBs that form during leptotene. Loss of gamma-H2AX staining (which in irradiated somatic cells is temporally linked with DSB repair) is temporally and spatially correlated with synapsis, even when this synapsis is 'non-homologous'.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Esterases / genetics
  • Esterases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Histones / immunology
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Integrases*
  • Male
  • Meiosis / genetics*
  • Meiosis / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinases
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histones
  • Msh5 protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • Recombinases
  • DNA
  • DNA Nucleotidyltransferases
  • Integrases
  • integron integrase IntI1
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases
  • Esterases
  • meiotic recombination protein SPO11