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γ-H2AX illuminates meiosis

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The temporal and functional relationships between the DNA events of meiotic recombination and the synaptonemal complex (SC), a meiosis-specific structure formed between homolog axes, are subjects of intense discussion and investigation. A new study provides evidence that initiation of recombination (through programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs)) precedes initiation of SC formation, and further suggests that progression of recombination is required for formation of SC on a region-by-region basis. These conclusions derive from immunocytological analysis of a phosphorylated histone variant, γ-H2AX, previously found to be characteristic of DSB repair in mitotic cells, and shown here to be recruited for specialized use during meiosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, USA

    Neil Hunter, G Valentin Börner & Nancy Kleckner

  2. Division of Basic Science, Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, 20892-4255, Maryland, USA

    Michael Lichten

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  1. Neil Hunter
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  2. G Valentin Börner
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  3. Michael Lichten
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  4. Nancy Kleckner
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Hunter, N., Valentin Börner, G., Lichten, M. et al. γ-H2AX illuminates meiosis. Nat Genet 27, 236–238 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/85781

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