Open AccessMEIOB Targets Single-Strand DNA and Is Necessary for Meiotic Recombination
Author(s) -
Benoît Souquet,
Emilie Abby,
Roxane Hervé,
Friederike Finsterbusch,
Sophie Tourpin,
Ronan Le Bouffant,
Clotilde Duquenne,
Sébastien Messiaen,
Emmanuelle Martini,
Jacqueline Bernardino-Sgherri,
Attila Tóth,
René Habert,
Gabriel Livera
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.587
H-Index - 233
eISSN - 1553-7404
pISSN - 1553-7390
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003784
Subject(s) - synapsis , biology , homologous recombination , rad51 , recombinase , meiosis , homologous chromosome , genetics , synaptonemal complex , chromosomal crossover , ectopic recombination , dna repair , meiocyte , genetic recombination , dna , in vitro recombination , microbiology and biotechnology , recombination , complementary dna , gene , molecular cloning
Meiotic recombination is a mandatory process for sexual reproduction. We identified a protein specifically implicated in meiotic homologous recombination that we named: meiosis specific with OB domain (MEIOB). This protein is conserved among metazoan species and contains single-strand DNA binding sites similar to those of RPA1. Our studies in vitro revealed that both recombinant and endogenous MEIOB can be retained on single-strand DNA. Those in vivo demonstrated the specific expression of Meiob in early meiotic germ cells and the co-localization of MEIOB protein with RPA on chromosome axes. MEIOB localization in Dmc1 −/− spermatocytes indicated that it accumulates on resected DNA. Homologous Meiob deletion in mice caused infertility in both sexes, due to a meiotic arrest at a zygotene/pachytene-like stage. DNA double strand break repair and homologous chromosome synapsis were impaired in Meiob −/− meiocytes. Interestingly MEIOB appeared to be dispensable for the initial loading of recombinases but was required to maintain a proper number of RAD51 and DMC1 foci beyond the zygotene stage. In light of these findings, we propose that RPA and this new single-strand DNA binding protein MEIOB, are essential to ensure the proper stabilization of recombinases which is required for successful homology search and meiotic recombination.