scholarly journals A rigorous measure of genome-wide genetic shuffling that takes into account crossover positions and Mendel’s second law

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Veller ◽  
Nancy Kleckner ◽  
Martin A. Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Genetics ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Crossover Interference ◽  
Independent Assortment ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
High Level

AbstractComparative studies in evolutionary genetics rely critically on evaluation of the total amount of genetic shuffling that occurs during gamete production. However, such studies have been ham-pered by the fact that there has been no direct measure of this quantity. Existing measures consider crossing over by simply counting the average number of crossovers per meiosis. This is qualitatively inadequate because the positions of crossovers along a chromosome are also critical: a crossover towards the middle of a chromosome causes more shuffling than a crossover towards the tip. More-over, traditional measures fail to consider shuffling from independent assortment of homologous chromosomes (Mendel’s second law). Here, we present a rigorous measure of genome-wide shuffling that does not suffer from these limitations. We define the parameter r̅ as the probability that the alleles at two randomly chosen loci will be shuffled in the production of a gamete. This measure can be decomposed into separate contributions from crossover number and position and from independent assortment. Intrinsic implications of this metric include the fact that r̅ is larger when crossovers are more evenly spaced, which suggests a novel selective advantage of crossover interference. Utilization of r̅ is enabled by powerful emergent methods for determining crossover positions, either cytologically or by DNA sequencing. Application of our analysis to such data from human male and female reveals that: (i) r̅ in humans is close to its maximum possible value of 1/2, (ii) this high level of shuffling is due almost entirely to independent assortment, whose contribution is ~30 times greater than that of crossovers.

scholarly journals A rigorous measure of genome-wide genetic shuffling that takes into account crossover positions and Mendel’s second law

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (5) ◽  
pp. 1659-1668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Veller ◽  
Nancy Kleckner ◽  
Martin A. Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Genetics ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Independent Assortment ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Gamete Production ◽  
High Level

Comparative studies in evolutionary genetics rely critically on evaluation of the total amount of genetic shuffling that occurs during gamete production. Such studies have been hampered by the absence of a direct measure of this quantity. Existing measures consider crossing-over by simply counting the average number of crossovers per meiosis. This is qualitatively inadequate, because the positions of crossovers along a chromosome are also critical: a crossover toward the middle of a chromosome causes more shuffling than a crossover toward the tip. Moreover, traditional measures fail to consider shuffling from independent assortment of homologous chromosomes (Mendel’s second law). Here, we present a rigorous measure of genome-wide shuffling that does not suffer from these limitations. We define the parameter r¯ as the probability that the alleles at two randomly chosen loci are shuffled during gamete production. This measure can be decomposed into separate contributions from crossover number and position and from independent assortment. Intrinsic implications of this metric include the fact that r¯ is larger when crossovers are more evenly spaced, which suggests a selective advantage of crossover interference. Utilization of r¯ is enabled by powerful emergent methods for determining crossover positions either cytologically or by DNA sequencing. Application of our analysis to such data from human male and female reveals that (i) r¯ in humans is close to its maximum possible value of 1/2 and that (ii) this high level of shuffling is due almost entirely to independent assortment, the contribution of which is ∼30 times greater than that of crossovers.

scholarly journals Chromosome Size-Dependent Control of Meiotic Reciprocal Recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: The Role of Crossover Interference

Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 1475-1486 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B Kaback ◽  
Dianna Barber ◽  
Jim Mahon ◽  
Jacque Lamb ◽  
Jerome You
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Chromosome Size ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Total Size ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Crossover Interference ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Reciprocal Recombination

Abstract In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, small chromosomes undergo meiotic reciprocal recombination (crossing over) at rates (centimorgans per kilobases) greater than those of large chromosomes, and recombination rates respond directly to changes in the total size of a chromosomal DNA molecule. This phenomenon, termed chromosome size-dependent control of meiotic reciprocal recombination, has been suggested to be important for ensuring that homologous chromosomes cross over during meiosis. The mechanism of this regulation was investigated by analyzing recombination in identical genetic intervals present on different size chromosomes. The results indicate that chromosome size-dependent control is due to different amounts of crossover interference. Large chromosomes have high levels of interference while small chromosomes have much lower levels of interference. A model for how crossover interference directly responds to chromosome size is presented. In addition, chromosome size-dependent control was shown to lower the frequency of homologous chromosomes that failed to undergo crossovers, suggesting that this control is an integral part of the mechanism for ensuring meiotic crossing over between homologous chromosomes.

scholarly journals The synaptonemal complex imposes crossover interference and heterochiasmy in Arabidopsis

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (12) ◽  
pp. e2023613118
Author(s):  
Laia Capilla-Pérez ◽  
Stéphanie Durand ◽  
Aurélie Hurel ◽  
Qichao Lian ◽  
Aurélie Chambon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptonemal Complex ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Crossover Interference ◽  
Genome Wide Analysis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Frequent Observation ◽  
Null Mutants

Meiotic crossovers (COs) have intriguing patterning properties, including CO interference, the tendency of COs to be well-spaced along chromosomes, and heterochiasmy, the marked difference in male and female CO rates. During meiosis, transverse filaments transiently associate the axes of homologous chromosomes, a process called synapsis that is essential for CO formation in many eukaryotes. Here, we describe the spatial organization of the transverse filaments in Arabidopsis (ZYP1) and show it to be evolutionary conserved. We show that in the absence of ZYP1 (zyp1a zyp1b null mutants), chromosomes associate in pairs but do not synapse. Unexpectedly, in absence of ZYP1, CO formation is not prevented but increased. Furthermore, genome-wide analysis of recombination revealed that CO interference is abolished, with the frequent observation of close COs. In addition, heterochiasmy was erased, with identical CO rates in males and females. This shows that the tripartite synaptonemal complex is dispensable for CO formation and has a key role in regulating their number and distribution, imposing CO interference and heterochiasmy.

The Budding Yeast Msh4 Protein Functions in Chromosome Synapsis and the Regulation of Crossover Distribution

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (3) ◽  
pp. 1013-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet E Novak ◽  
Petra B Ross-Macdonald ◽  
G Shirleen Roeder
Keyword(s):  
Mismatch Repair ◽  
Budding Yeast ◽  
Null Mutation ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Crossover Interference ◽  
Meiotic Chromosomes ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Protein Functions ◽  
Or Gene

AbstractThe budding yeast MSH4 gene encodes a MutS homolog produced specifically in meiotic cells. Msh4 is not required for meiotic mismatch repair or gene conversion, but it is required for wild-type levels of crossing over. Here, we show that a msh4 null mutation substantially decreases crossover interference. With respect to the defect in interference and the level of crossing over, msh4 is similar to the zip1 mutant, which lacks a structural component of the synaptonemal complex (SC). Furthermore, epistasis tests indicate that msh4 and zip1 affect the same subset of meiotic crossovers. In the msh4 mutant, SC formation is delayed compared to wild type, and full synapsis is achieved in only about half of all nuclei. The simultaneous defects in synapsis and interference observed in msh4 (and also zip1 and ndj1/tam1) suggest a role for the SC in mediating interference. The Msh4 protein localizes to discrete foci on meiotic chromosomes and colocalizes with Zip2, a protein involved in the initiation of chromosome synapsis. Both Zip2 and Zip1 are required for the normal localization of Msh4 to chromosomes, raising the possibility that the zip1 and zip2 defects in crossing over are indirect, resulting from the failure to localize Msh4 properly.

scholarly journals Crossover Interference in Arabidopsis

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 160 (4) ◽  
pp. 1631-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
G P Copenhaver ◽  
E A Housworth ◽  
F W Stahl
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
Crossover Interference

AbstractThe crossover distribution in meiotic tetrads of Arabidopsis thaliana differs from those previously described for Drosophila and Neurospora. Whereas a chi-square distribution with an even number of degrees of freedom provides a good fit for the latter organisms, the fit for Arabidopsis was substantially improved by assuming an additional set of crossovers sprinkled, at random, among those distributed as per chi square. This result is compatible with the view that Arabidopsis has two pathways for meiotic crossing over, only one of which is subject to interference. The results further suggest that Arabidopsis meiosis has >10 times as many double-strand breaks as crossovers.

Effect of the Pairing Gene Ph1 and Premeiotic Colchicine Treatment on Intra- and Interchromosome Pairing of Isochromosomes in Common Wheat

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 1199-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan M Vega ◽  
Moshe Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Common Wheat ◽  
Homologous Chromosome ◽  
Colchicine Treatment ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Meiotic Pairing ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Polyploid Wheat ◽  
Main Gene ◽  
Ph1 Gene

Abstract The analysis of the pattern of isochromosome pairing allows one to distinguish factors affecting presynaptic alignment of homologous chromosomes from those affecting synapsis and crossing-over. Because the two homologous arms in an isochromosome are invariably associated by a common centromere, the suppression of pairing between these arms (intrachromosome pairing) would indicate that synaptic or postsynaptic events were impaired. In contrast, the suppression of pairing between an isochromosome and its homologous chromosome (interchromosome pairing), without affecting intrachromosome pairing, would suggest that homologous presynaptic alignment was impaired. We used such an isochromosome system to determine which of the processes associated with chromosome pairing was affected by the Ph1 gene of common wheat—the main gene that restricts pairing to homologues. Ph1 reduced the frequency of interchromosome pairing without affecting intrachromosome pairing. In contrast, intrachromosome pairing was strongly reduced in the absence of the synaptic gene Syn-B1. Premeiotic colchicine treatment, which drastically decreased pairing of conventional chromosomes, reduced interchromosome but not intrachromosome pairing. The results support the hypothesis that premeiotic alignment is a necessary stage for the regularity of meiotic pairing and that Ph1 relaxes this alignment. We suggest that Ph1 acts on premeiotic alignment of homologues and homeologues as a means of ensuring diploid-like meiotic behavior in polyploid wheat.

scholarly journals MITOTIC CROSSING OVER AND NONDISJUNCTION IN TRANSLOCATION HETEROZYGOTES OF ASPERGILLUS

Genetics ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-627
Author(s):  
Etta Käfer
Keyword(s):  
Selective Advantage ◽  
The Other ◽  
Translocation Chromosome ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Selective Marker ◽  
Reciprocal Translocations ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Diploid Genotype ◽  
One Step

ABSTRACT To analyze mitotic recombination in translocation heterozygotes of A. nidulans two sets of well-marked diploids were constructed, homo- or heterozygous for the reciprocal translocations T1(IL;VIIR) or T2(IL;VIIIR) and heterozygous for selective markers on IL. It was found that from all translocation heterozygotes some of the expected mitotic crossover types could be selected. Such crossovers are monosomic for one translocated segment and trisomic for the other and recovery depends on the relative viabilities of these unbalanced types. The obtained segregants show characteristically reduced growth rates and conidiation dependent on sizes and types of mono- and trisomic segments, and all spontaneously produce normal diploid sectors. Such secondary diploid types either arose in one step of compensating crossing over in the other involved arm, or—more conspicuously—in two steps of nondisjunction via a trisomic intermediate.—In both of the analyzed translocations the segments translocated to IL were extremely long, while those translocated from IL were relatively short. The break in I for T1(I;VII) was located distal to the main selective marker in IL, while that of T2(I;VIII) had been mapped proximal but closely linked to it. Therefore, as expected, the selected primary crossover from the two diploids with T2(I;VIII) in coupling or in repulsion to the selective marker, showed the same chromosomal imbalance and poor growth. These could however be distinguished visually because they spontaneously produced different trisomic intermediates in the next step, in accordance with the different arrangement of the aneuploid segments. On the other hand, from diploids heterozygous for T1(I;VII) mitotic crossovers could only be selected when the selective markers were in coupling with the translocation; these crossovers were relatively well-growing and produced frequent secondary segregants of the expected trisomic, 2n+VII, type. For both translocations it was impossible to recover the reciprocal crossover types (which would be trisomic for the distal segments of I and monosomic for most of groups VII or VIII) presumably because these were too inviable to form conidia.—In addition to the selected segregants of expected types a variety of unexpected ones were isolated. The conditions of selection used favour visual detection of aneuploid types, even if these produce only a few conidial heads and are not at a selective advantage. For T2(I;VIII) these "non-selected" unbalanced segregants were mainly "reciprocal" crossovers of the same phenotype and imbalance as the selected ones. For T1(I;VII) two quite different types were obtained, both possibly originating with loss of the small VII-Itranslocation chromosome. One was isolated when the selective marker in repulsion to T1(I;VII) was used and, without being homo- or hemizygous for the selective marker, it produced stable sectors homozygous for this marker. The other was obtained from both coupling and repulsion diploids and showed a near-diploid genotype; it produced practically only haploid stable sectors of the type expected from monosomics, 2n-1 for the short translocation chromosome.

MEIOSIS IN THE GRASSHOPPER. II. THE PRELEPTOTENE SPIRAL STAGE DURING OOGENESIS AND SPERMATOGENESIS IN MELANOPLUS FEMUR-RUBRUM

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Church
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Chromosome Behaviour ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Diploid Complement

Chromosome behaviour occurring from premeiotic DNA synthesis to leptotene of meiosis is described for both males (spermatogenesis) and females (oogenesis) in the grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum. These events include a period of chromosome spiralization and contraction following premeiotic DNA synthesis and prior to leptotene. The diploid complement of chromosomes becomes visible in both sexes. No pairing between homologous chromosomes or chiasmata are observed in either sex. The results suggest that synapsis and crossing over must occur following preleptotene spiralization during spermatogenesis and oogenesis in this grasshopper.

scholarly journals H3 K79 dimethylation marks developmental activation of the β-globin gene but is reduced upon LCR-mediated high-level transcription

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoyuki Sawado ◽  
Jessica Halow ◽  
Hogune Im ◽  
Tobias Ragoczy ◽  
Emery H. Bresnick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Activation Of Transcription ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mutant Genes ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

Abstract Genome-wide analyses of the relationship between H3 K79 dimethylation and transcription have revealed contradictory results. To clarify this relationship at a single locus, we analyzed expression and H3 K79 modification levels of wild-type (WT) and transcriptionally impaired β-globin mutant genes during erythroid differentiation. Analysis of fractionated erythroid cells derived from WT/Δ locus control region (LCR) heterozygous mice reveals no significant H3 K79 dimethylation of the β-globin gene on either allele prior to activation of transcription. Upon transcriptional activation, H3 K79 di-methylation is observed along both WT and ΔLCR alleles, and both alleles are located in proximity to H3 K79 dimethylation nuclear foci. However, H3 K79 di-methylation is significantly increased along the ΔLCR allele compared with the WT allele. In addition, analysis of a partial LCR deletion mutant reveals that H3 K79 dimethylation is inversely correlated with β-globin gene expression levels. Thus, while our results support a link between H3 K79 dimethylation and gene expression, high levels of this mark are not essential for high level β-globin gene transcription. We propose that H3 K79 dimethylation is destabilized on a highly transcribed template.

scholarly journals Distinct prophase arrest mechanisms in human male meiosis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Z. Jan ◽  
Aldo Jongejan ◽  
Cindy M. Korver ◽  
Saskia K. M. van Daalen ◽  
Ans M. M. van Pelt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Stability ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Meiotic Arrest ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Xy Body ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Meiotic Crossover

To prevent chromosomal aberrations to be transmitted to the offspring, strict meiotic checkpoints are in place to remove aberrant spermatocytes. However, in about 1% of all males these checkpoints cause complete meiotic arrest leading to azoospermia and subsequent infertility. We here unravel two clearly distinct meiotic arrest mechanisms that act during the prophase of human male meiosis. Type I arrested spermatocytes display severe asynapsis of the homologous chromosomes, disturbed XY-body formation and increased expression of the Y-chromosome encoded gene ZFY and seem to activate a DNA damage pathway leading to induction of p63 mediated spermatocyte elimination. Type II arrested spermatocytes display normal chromosome synapsis, normal XY-body morphology and meiotic crossover formation but have a lowered expression of several cell cycle regulating genes and fail to properly silence the X-chromosome encoded gene ZFX. Discovery and understanding of these meiotic arrest mechanisms increases our knowledge on how genomic stability is guarded during human germ cell development.

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