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High density of REC 8 constrains sister chromatid axes and prevents illegitimate synaptonemal complex formation
Author(s) -
Agostinho Ana,
Manneberg Otto,
Schendel Robin,
HernándezHernández Abrahan,
Kouznetsova Anna,
Blom Hans,
Brismar Hjalmar,
Höög Christer
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.15252/embr.201642030
Subject(s) - cohesin , establishment of sister chromatid cohesion , sister chromatids , meiocyte , chromatid , synaptonemal complex , synapsis , biology , meiosis , chromosome segregation , genetics , separase , microbiology and biotechnology , chromosome , gene
During meiosis, cohesin complexes mediate sister chromatid cohesion ( SCC ), synaptonemal complex ( SC ) assembly and synapsis. Here, using super‐resolution microscopy, we imaged sister chromatid axes in mouse meiocytes that have normal or reduced levels of cohesin complexes, assessing the relationship between localization of cohesin complexes, SCC and SC formation. We show that REC 8 foci are separated from each other by a distance smaller than 15% of the total chromosome axis length in wild‐type meiocytes. Reduced levels of cohesin complexes result in a local separation of sister chromatid axial elements (LSAEs), as well as illegitimate SC formation at these sites. REC 8 but not RAD 21 or RAD 21L cohesin complexes flank sites of LSAEs, whereas RAD 21 and RAD 21L appear predominantly along the separated sister‐chromatid axes. Based on these observations and a quantitative distribution analysis of REC 8 along sister chromatid axes, we propose that the high density of randomly distributed REC 8 cohesin complexes promotes SCC and prevents illegitimate SC formation.