Multivalent weak interactions between assembly units drive synaptonemal complex formation

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The synaptonemal complex (SC) is crucial for accurate meiotic chromosome segregation by controlling crossover formation.
• Mechanisms governing SC assembly and dynamics are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel SC components and elucidate their roles in SC assembly and regulation.
• To investigate the contribution of intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and charge-interacting elements (CIEs) to SC formation.

Main Methods:

• Protein identification and characterization in Caenorhabditis elegans.
• Analysis of protein expression patterns and interactions.
• In vivo studies of SC regulatory functions.
• Investigation of phase separation properties.
• Functional assays involving IDR and CIE deletion.

Main Results:

• Two new SC components, SYP-5 and SYP-6, were identified with distinct expression and assembly properties.
• SYP-5 and SYP-6 exhibit diverse regulatory functions and phase separation behaviors.
• Charge-interacting elements (CIEs) within intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are essential for SC regulation.
• Multivalent weak interactions between SC units, conferred by CIEs, drive SC formation.

Conclusions:

• SYP-5 and SYP-6 are novel regulators of synaptonemal complex assembly and dynamics.
• Intrinsically disordered regions and charge-interacting elements play a critical role in SC formation through multivalent interactions.