Forceful Beginnings: Mechanotransduction and Mechanosensation at the Meiotic Cell Nucleus During Gamete Development

For most eukaryotes, sexual reproduction depends on meiosis, a specialized cell division and differentiation program that halves the parental genome to produce gametes such as eggs, sperm, and pollen. Accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis and the subsequent maturation of gametes are essential for reproductive success. Growing evidence suggests that mechanical forces acting on meiotic nuclei play essential roles in the development of healthy gametes. Here, we highlight how mechanical forces participate in key events through gamete development by focusing on three distinct yet related processes over space and time during the protracted meiotic prophase: (1) dynamic chromosome reorganization in early prophase, (2) control of gamete quality, and (3) gamete maturation. We center this chapter on Caenorhabditis elegans, in which the molecular logic of nuclear mechanotransduction during gamete development is especially well resolved. Where relevant, we summarize key findings in other model organisms to underscore conserved and divergent mechanisms. In addition to synthesizing current knowledge, this chapter outlines challenges and opportunities in studying the mechanisms and roles of force transmission and sensation at the nuclear envelope during gamete development-an emerging area with the potential to inform strategies that would improve reproductive health.