Recombination and Meiosis (eBook)

Models, Means, and Evolution

Richard Egel, Dirk-Henner Lankenau (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF

2008 | 2008
XXI, 390 Seiten
Springer Berlin (Verlag)
978-3-540-68984-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Once per life cycle, mitotic nuclear divisions are replaced by meiosis I and II - reducing chromosome number from the diploid level to a haploid genome and recombining chromosome arms by crossing-over. In animals, all this happens during formation of eggs and sperm - in yeasts before spore formation. The mechanisms of reciprocal exchange at crossover/chiasma sites are central to mainstream meiosis. To initiate the meiotic exchange of DNA, surgical cuts are made as a form of calculated damage that subsequently is repaired by homologous recombination. These key events are accompanied by ancillary provisions at the level of chromatin organization, sister chromatid cohesion and differential centromere connectivity. Great progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of these mechanisms. Questions still open primarily concern the placement of and mutual coordination between neighboring crossover events. Of overlapping significance, this book features two comprehensive treatises of enzymes involved in meiotic recombination, as well as the historical conceptualization of meiotic phenomena from genetical experiments. More specifically, these mechanisms are addressed in yeasts as unicellular model eukaryotes. Furthermore, evolutionary subjects related to meiosis are treated.

Inhalt

Preface 5
References 11
Note Added in Proof 11
References 12
Contents 13
Contents of Volume 2: Recombination and Meiosis 20
Evolution of Models of Homologous Recombination 21
1 Introduction 21
2 Robin Holliday’s Remarkable Model 27
3 Molecular Models Based on a Single Initiating DNA Lesion 33
4 The Meselson–Radding Model (1975) 35
5 Problems with the Meselson–Radding Model 39
6 Alternative Ways to Initiate Recombination 40
7 The Double Holliday DSB Repair Model of Szostak, Orr- Weaver, Rothstein and Stahl 45
8 Identification of DNA Intermediates of Recombination 48
9 Multiple Pathways Meiotic Recombination 55
10 Single-Strand Annealing Causes Primarily Intrachromosomal Deletions 58
11 Synthesis-Dependent Strand Annealing Accounts for Most Mitotic Recombination and Noncrossovers in Meiosis 59
12 Evolution of Gene Conversion Models in the Present 65
13 Another Major Source of Creative Thinking: Nonreciprocal Recombination in Phage . 68
14 Re-Emergence of Old Ideas in New Guises: Break-Induced Replication 69
References 72
Searching for Homology by Filaments of RecA- Like Proteins 85
1 RecA-Like Proteins and Homologous Recombination 85
2 Sequence Effects in Homologous Recombination 92
3 Homology Search in the Cell 94
4 Models of Homology Search at the Molecular Level 96
5 Homology Recognition at the Atomic Level 100
6 Conclusion 104
References 104
Biochemistry of Meiotic Recombination: Formation, Processing, and Resolution of Recombination Intermediates 110
1 Introduction 111
2 Biochemistry of Meiotic Recombination 114
3 Conclusions and Outlook 167
References 169
Meiotic Chromatin: The Substrate for Recombination Initiation 184
1 Introduction 184
2 Double-Strand Breaks and Chromatin Structure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae 186
3 Recombination Hotspots and Chromatin Structure in Schizosaccharomyces pombe 196
4 Hints from Multicellular Organisms 201
References 205
Meiotic Recombination in Schizosaccharomyces pombe: A Paradigm for Genetic andMolecular Analysis 213
1 S. pombe: An Excellent Model Organism for Studying Meiotic Recombination 214
2 Overview: A Pathway for S. pombe Meiotic Recombination 215
3 Nuclear Movement Promotes Chromosome Alignment: “ Bouquet” and “ Horsetail” Formation 217
4 Meiosis-specific Sister Chromatid Cohesins: Behavior Change 220
5 DSB Formation by Rec12: Preparation and Partnership 221
6 DSB Hotspots and Coldspots: Regulating Where Recombination Occurs 226
7 Processing of Rec12-generated DSBs: Converting a Lesion into a Recombinogenic DNA-Protein Complex 229
8 Strand Invasion and Partner Choice 233
9 Joint Molecule Resolution 235
10 Mismatch Correction 237
11 Relation of Gene Conversion and Crossing-over 238
12 Species-specific Strategies for Ensuring, With or Without Interference, the Crossovers Required for Chromosome Segregation 239
13 Differences Between S. pombe and S. cerevisiae Meiotic Recombination: A Reprise 240
References 242
Nuclear Movement Enforcing Chromosome Alignment in Fission Yeast— Meiosis Without Homolog Synapsis 249
1 Introduction 249
2 Alignment of Homologous Chromosomes 251
3 Regulation of Telomere Clustering 255
4 Regulation of Nuclear Movement 259
5 Conclusion and Outlook 261
References 262
On the Origin of Meiosis in Eukaryotic Evolution: Coevolution of Meiosis and Mitosis from Feeble Beginnings 266
1 Introduction 267
2 A Conserved Core of Meiotic Proteins 269
3 The Complex Eukaryotic Signature 270
4 The Universal Trifurcation 272
5 The RNA World Scenario 274
6 Dynamic Implications of Eigen’s Quasi-Species Concept 278
7 Woese’s Phase Shift at Decreasing “Evolutionary Temperature” 280
8 Early Traits with Preadaptive Value for Meiosis 284
9 Meiosis vs. Mitosis – Alternative Programs Responding to Different Selective Needs 288
10 Coevolution of Meiosis and Mitosis 291
11 Variations on the Meiotic System in the World of Protists 294
12 Concluding Remarks 297
References 300
The Legacy of the Germ Line – Maintaining Sex and Life in Metazoans: Cognitive Roots of the Concept of Hierarchical Selection 306
1 Introduction 306
2 The Legacy of the Germ Line 308
3 The Allmacht of Selection 329
4 Maintaining Sex in Metazoans 336
5 Finale 346
References 350
Lessons to Learn from Ancient Asexuals 357
1 The Paradox of Sex 357
2 What is an Ancient Asexual? 361
3 Novel Genetic Tests – Meiosis Proteins 379
4 Conclusions 381
References 383
Subject Index 393

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 25.7.2008
• Reihe/Serie: Genome Dynamics and Stability
• Reihe/Serie: Genome Dynamics and Stability
• Zusatzinfo: XXI, 390 p.
• Verlagsort: Berlin
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Studium ► 2. Studienabschnitt (Klinik) ► Humangenetik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Mikrobiologie / Immunologie
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: biochemistry • Chromosom • chromosome • DNA • DNA Double-Strand Breaks • enzymes • eukaryote • Evolution • Homolog Synapsis • Meiosis, Evolution of • recombination
• ISBN-10: 3-540-68984-2 / 3540689842
• ISBN-13: 978-3-540-68984-3 / 9783540689843