scholarly journals Modeling Cell Biological Features of Meiotic Chromosome Pairing

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik J Navarro ◽  
Wallace F. Marshall ◽  
Jennifer C Fung
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Chromosome Length ◽  
Random Motion ◽  
Nuclear Size ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Active Motion ◽  
Experimental Findings

During meiosis, homologous chromosomes become associated side by side in a process known as homologous chromosome pairing. Pairing requires long range chromosome motion through a nucleus that is full of other chromosomes. It remains unclear how the cell manages to align each pair of chromosomes quickly while mitigating and resolving interlocks. Here, we use a coarse-grained molecular dynamics model to investigate how specific features of meiosis, including motor-driven telomere motion, nuclear envelope interactions, and increased nuclear size, affect the rate of pairing and the mitigation/resolution of interlocks. By creating in silico versions of three yeast strains and comparing the results of our model to experimental data, we find that a more distributed placement of pairing sites along the chromosome is necessary to replicate experimental findings. Active motion of the telomeric ends speeds up pairing only if binding sites are spread along the chromosome length. Adding a meiotic bouquet significantly speeds up pairing but does not significantly change the number of interlocks. An increase in nuclear size slows down pairing while greatly reducing the number of interlocks. Interestingly, active forces increase the number of interlocks, which raises the question: How do these interlocks resolve? Our model gives us detailed movies of interlock resolution events which we then analyze to build a step-by-step recipe for interlock resolution. In our model, interlocks must first translocate to the ends, where they are held in a quasi-stable state by a large number of paired sites on one side. To completely resolve an interlock, the telomeres of the involved chromosomes must come in close proximity so that the cooperativity of pairing coupled with random motion causes the telomeres to unwind. Together our results indicate that computational modeling of homolog pairing provides insight into the specific cell biological changes that occur during meiosis.

Inferences from genetical evidence on the course of meiotic chromosome pairing in plants

1977 ◽  
Vol 277 (955) ◽  
pp. 313-326 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Gene Control ◽  
Meiotic Pairing ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Or Gene

Meiotic chromosome pairing is a process that is amenable to genetic and experimental analysis. The combined use of these two approaches allows for the process to be dissected into several finite periods of time in which the developmental stages of pairing can be precisely located. Evidence is now available, in particular in plants, that shows that the pairing of homologous chromosomes, as observed at metaphase I, is affected by events occurring as early as the last premeiotic mitosis; and that the maintenance of this early determined state is subsequently maintained by constituents (presumably proteins) that are sensitive to either colchicine, temperature or gene control. A critical assessment of this evidence in wheat and a comparison of the process of pairing in wheat with the course of meiotic pairing in other plants and animals is presented.

Intergeneric hybrids of Hordeum vulgare with Agropyron caninum and A. dasystachyum

1985 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Fedak
Keyword(s):  
Hordeum Vulgare ◽  
Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Intergeneric Hybrids ◽  
Spindle Fibre ◽  
Chromosome Behavior ◽  
Paternal Parent ◽  
Agropyron Caninum

Hybrids were obtained by pollinating Hordeum vulgare cv. Betzes with Agropyron caninum (4x) and A. dasystachyum (4x) at frequencies of 1.4 and 6.1% of pollinated florets, respectively. The hybrids were sterile and phenotypically resembled the paternal parent, except for floret structure which was intermediate between the parental types. Chromosome pairing at meiosis was very low and thus provided no indication of homoeology between parental genomes. Abnormal meiotic chromosome behavior in meiocytes that occurred in sectors on the 'Betzes' × A. dasystachyum hybrid was attributed to abnormal spindle fibre function.Key words: intergeneric hybrids, Hordeum vulgare, Agropyron caninum, Agropyron dasystachyum.

Estimating meiotic chromosome pairing and recombination parameters in telocentric trisomics

Genome ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 1014-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sybenga ◽  
H. Verhaar ◽  
D.G.A. Botje
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Genome Analysis ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Chiasma Formation ◽  
Chromosome Morphology ◽  
Test Material ◽  
Gene Localization ◽  
Maximum Information ◽  
Chromosome 1R

Telocentric trisomics (telotrisomics; one arm of a metacentric chromosome present in addition to two complete genomes) are used in theoretical studies of pairing affinities and chiasma formation in competitive situations and applied in genome analysis, gene localization, gene transfer, and breakage of close linkages. These applications require knowledge of the recombination characteristics of telotrisomics. Appropriate cytological and molecular markers and favorable chromosome morphology are not always available or applicable for quantitative analyses. We developed new mathematical models for extracting the maximum information from simple metaphase I observations. Two types of telotrisomics of the short arm of chromosome 1R of rye ( Secale cereale ), including several genotypes, were used as test material. In simple telotrisomics, pairing between morphologically identical complete chromosomes was more frequent than pairing between the telocentric and either of the normal chromosomes. In the telocentric substitution, morphologically identical telocentrics paired less frequently with each other than either one with the normal chromosome. Pairing partner switch was significant. Interaction between the two arms was variable. Variation within plants was considerable. Telotrisomics without markers are suitable for analyzing pairing preferences, for gene localization and gene transfer, and for breaking tight linkages, but less so for genome analysis.

scholarly journals TOP-2 is differentially required for the proper maintenance of cohesin on meiotic chromosomes in C. elegans spermatogenesis and oogenesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee Jaramillo-Lambert ◽  
Christine Kiely Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Sister Chromatid ◽  
Topoisomerase Ii ◽  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Sister Chromatid Cohesion ◽  
Chromosome Length ◽  
Aurora B ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Late Prophase ◽  
Prophase I ◽  
Chromatid Cohesion

During meiotic prophase I, accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes requires the establishment of a chromosomes with a meiosis-specific architecture. Sister chromatid cohesins and the enzyme Topoisomerase II are important components of meiotic chromosome axes, but the relationship of these proteins in the context of meiotic chromosome segregation is poorly defined. Here, we analyzed the role of Topoisomerase II (TOP-2) in the timely release of sister chromatid cohesins during spermatogenesis and oogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that there is a different requirement for TOP-2 in meiosis of spermatogenesis and oogenesis. The loss-of-function mutation top-2(it7) results in premature REC-8 removal in spermatogenesis, but not oogenesis. This is due to a failure to maintain the HORMA-domain proteins HTP-1 and HTP-2 (HTP-1/2) on chromosome axes at diakinesis and mislocalization of the downstream components that control sister chromatid cohesion release including Aurora B kinase. In oogenesis, top-2(it7) causes a delay in the localization of Aurora B to oocyte chromosomes but can be rescued through premature activation of the maturation promoting factor via knock-down of the inhibitor kinase WEE-1.3. The delay in Aurora B localization is associated with an increase in the length of diakinesis chromosomes and wee-1.3 RNAi mediated rescue of Auorora B localization in top-2(it7) is associated with a decrease in chromosome length. Our results imply that the sex-specific effects of Topoisomerase II on sister chromatid cohesion release are due to differences in the temporal regulation of meiosis and chromosome structure in late prophase I in spermatogenesis and oogenesis.

Embryonic tissues are viscoelastic materials

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
D A Beysens ◽  
G Forgacs ◽  
J A Glazier
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Metastatic Potential ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Embryonic Tissues ◽  
Differential Adhesion ◽  
Equilibrium Configurations ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Differential Adhesion Hypothesis

Early embryonic development is characterized by spectacular morphogenetic processes such as sorting or spreading of tissues. Analogy between viscoelastic fluids and certain properties of embryonic tissues turned out to be useful in interpreting some aspects of these morphogenetic phenomena. In accordance with the differential adhesion hypothesis, the values of tissue-specific surface tensions have been shown to be consistent with the equilibrium configurations such tissues reach in the course of sorting and spreading. A method to measure tissue surface tension and viscoelastic properties is described. Notions like the Laplace's equation relating surface tension to radii of curvature, or the Kelvin model of viscoelasticity are used to analyze the results of these measurements. The fluid analogy is extended to time-dependent phenomena, in particular, to the analysis of cellular pattern evolution in the course of spreading. On the basis of recent experimental findings, we demonstrate that the kinetics of spreading and nucleation in binary fluids can be analyzed using the same formalism. We illustrate how our results can be used to obtain biologically relevant information on the strength of binding between specific cell adhesion molecules under near physiological conditions. We also suggest a diagnostic application of our method to monitor the metastatic potential of tumors. PACS No.: 03.65Ge

scholarly journals Dissecting the role of the γ-subunit in the rotary–chemical coupling and torque generation of F1-ATPase

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (9) ◽  
pp. 2746-2751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayantani Mukherjee ◽  
Arieh Warshel
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Γ Subunit ◽  
Torque Generation ◽  
Chemical Coupling ◽  
Basic Features ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Molecular Nature

Unraveling the molecular nature of the conversion of chemical energy (ATP hydrolysis in the α/β-subunits) to mechanical energy and torque (rotation of the γ-subunit) in F1-ATPase is very challenging. A major part of the challenge involves understanding the rotary–chemical coupling by a nonphenomenological structure–energy description, while accounting for the observed torque generated on the γ-subunit and its change due to mutation of this unit. Here we extend our previous study that used a coarse-grained model of the F1-ATPase to generate a structure-based free energy landscape of the rotary–chemical process. Our quantitative analysis of the landscape reproduced the observed torque for the wild-type enzyme. In doing so, we found that there are several possibilities of torque generation from landscapes with various shapes and demonstrated that a downhill slope along the chemical coordinate could still result in negligible torque, due to ineffective coupling of the chemistry to the γ-subunit rotation. We then explored the relationship between the functionality and the underlying sequence through systematic examination of the effect of various parts of the γ-subunit on free energy surfaces of F1-ATPase. Furthermore, by constructing several types of γ-deletion systems and calculating the corresponding torque generation, we gained previously unknown insights into the molecular nature of the F1-ATPase rotary motor. Significantly, our results are in excellent agreement with recent experimental findings and indicate that the rotary–chemical coupling is primarily established through electrostatic effects, although specific contacts through γ-ionizable residue side chains are not essential for establishing the basic features of the coupling.

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