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The Drosophila UBC9 homologue lesswright mediates the disjunction of homologues in meiosis I
Author(s) -
Apionishev Sergey,
Malhotra Deepak,
Raghavachari Seshasayee,
Tanda Soichi,
Rasooly Rebekah S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2443.2001.00413.x
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , drosophila melanogaster , meiosis , chromosome segregation , phenotype , mutant , gene , prophase , saccharomyces cerevisiae , nondisjunction , microbiology and biotechnology , chromosome , aneuploidy
Background In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other organisms, the UBC9 (ubiquitin‐conjugating 9) protein modifies the function of many different target proteins through covalent attachment of the ubiquitin‐like protein SMT‐3/SUMO. Results Using a second‐site suppression screen of a mutation in the nod locus with a variable meiotic phenotype, we have identified mutations in the Drosophila melanogaster UBC9 homologue, encoded by the gene lesswright ( lwr ). lwr mutations dominantly suppress the nondisjunction and cytological defects of female meiotic mutations that affect spindle formation. The lwr lethal phenotype is rescued by a Drosophila UBC9/ lwr transgene. Conclusions We suggest that LWR mediates the dissociation of heterochromatic regions of homologues at the end of meiotic prophase I. Our model proposes that when there is less LWR protein, homologues remain together longer, allowing for more normal spindle formation in mutant backgrounds and therefore more accurate meiotic chromosome segregation.