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atz‐1 Influences meiosis to maintain germline chromosomal stability in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Dawson Joseph A.,
MethvenKelley Caitlin,
Davis Gregory M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1002/cbin.10821
Subject(s) - caenorhabditis elegans , meiosis , germline , biology , cohesin , mutant , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , synaptonemal complex , mutation , ploidy , gene
Exchange of genetic information during meiosis occurs in all sexually reproducing species to produce haploid gametes from diploid cells. This process involves tight coordination of a meiotic specific cohesin complex, the synaptonemal complex, and DNA damage repair mechanisms. In this study, we describe a putative myosin heavy chain protein orthologous to human myosin 1, F28D1.2, which we named Abnormal Transition Zone ( atz‐1 ). Deletion of atz‐1 results in embryonic lethality and a depleted transition zone, accompanied by reduced expression of the meiotic cohesin protein, REC‐8. atz‐1 mutants display disorganized and aggregated chromosomal bodies in diakinetic oocytes. In addition to this, atz‐1 mutants are hypersensitive to mild inhibition of DNA damage repair, suggesting that DNA replication in atz‐1 mutants is impaired. Moreover, the atz‐1 mutant phenotype is germline specific and resupplying somatically expressed atz‐1 does not rescue the reproductive defects associated with atz‐1 mutants. Overall, our data suggest that atz‐1 contributes to meiosis and maintains germline chromosomal stability.