The synaptonemal complexes of Caenorhabditis elegans: the dominant him mutant mnT6 and pachytene karyotype analysis of the X-autosome translocation

Abstract

The dominant X-autosome heterozygous translocation mutant mnT6 of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has an X chromosome that has been reduced in size by 40%, yet the remainder of the bivalent pairs effectively at pachytene and has a synaptonemal complex (SC) that has a normal appearance. Six SCs are present in pachytene nuclei of this mutant which correspond to a haploid value of n = 6. Nondisjunction of the X chromosome occurs at a rate of 37% and there are no 'Disjunction Regulator Regions' (DRR) in this him (high incidence of males) mutant. This is consistent with the notion that DRRs either promote disjunction or inhibit nondisjunction of the X chromosome. Their occurrence in pachytene nuclei is independent of the mechanism responsible for nondisjunction, i.e. point mutations as in him-8 versus chromosomal aberrations as in mnT6. Although an SC is present along the entire length of the X chromosome, crossover suppression is observed in mnT6.