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The Arabidopsis Cdk1/Cdk2 homolog CDKA ;1 controls chromosome axis assembly during plant meiosis
Author(s) -
Yang Chao,
Sofroni Kostika,
Wijnker Erik,
Hamamura Yuki,
Carstens Lena,
Harashima Hirofumi,
Stolze Sara Christina,
Vezon Daniel,
Chelysheva Liudmila,
OrbanNemeth Zsuzsanna,
Pochon Gaëtan,
Nakagami Hirofumi,
Schlögelhofer Peter,
Grelon Mathilde,
Schnittger Arp
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2019101625
Subject(s) - synapsis , biology , synaptonemal complex , arabidopsis , meiosis , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , cyclin dependent kinase 1 , chromosome segregation , chromosome , gene , mutant , cell cycle
Meiosis is key to sexual reproduction and genetic diversity. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis cyclin‐dependent kinase Cdk1/Cdk2 homolog CDKA ;1 is an important regulator of meiosis needed for several aspects of meiosis such as chromosome synapsis. We identify the chromosome axis protein ASYNAPTIC 1 ( ASY 1), the Arabidopsis homolog of Hop1 (homolog pairing 1), essential for synaptonemal complex formation, as a target of CDKA ;1. The phosphorylation of ASY 1 is required for its recruitment to the chromosome axis via ASYNAPTIC 3 ( ASY 3), the Arabidopsis reductional division 1 (Red1) homolog, counteracting the disassembly activity of the AAA + ATP ase PACHYTENE CHECKPOINT 2 ( PCH 2). Furthermore, we have identified the closure motif in ASY 1, typical for HORMA domain proteins, and provide evidence that the phosphorylation of ASY 1 regulates the putative self‐polymerization of ASY 1 along the chromosome axis. Hence, the phosphorylation of ASY 1 by CDKA ;1 appears to be a two‐pronged mechanism to initiate chromosome axis formation in meiosis.