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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Examination of Mitotic and Meiotic Fission Yeast Nuclear Dynamics by Fluorescence Live-cell Microscopy
12:04

Examination of Mitotic and Meiotic Fission Yeast Nuclear Dynamics by Fluorescence Live-cell Microscopy

Published on: June 24, 2019

Interaction Between Rec8 and Mis4 Is Required for Axis-Loop Chromatin Formation and Homologous Chromosome

Takeshi Sakuno1, Yasuto Murayama2, Tokuko Haraguchi1

  • 1Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, the University of Osaka, Suita, Japan.

Genes to Cells : Devoted to Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms
|June 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The Mis4-Rec8 interaction is crucial for forming the meiotic chromosome axis in fission yeast. Disrupting this interaction impairs homologous chromosome pairing and recombination while maintaining sister chromatid cohesion.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The Rec8 cohesin complex is essential for homologous chromosome pairing, recombination, and sister chromatid cohesion during meiosis.
  • Previous studies identified a rec8-F204S mutant in Schizosaccharomyces pombe that disrupts axis-loop chromatin structure, impairing meiotic recombination but not sister chromatid cohesion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the functions of Mis4 (Scc2 in yeast, NIPBL in humans) in Rec8 cohesin complex loading and meiotic chromosome structure.
  • To investigate the role of the Mis4-Rec8 interaction in meiotic chromosome axis formation.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of a novel mis4-LR mutant (L1150S and R1159G) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
  • Phenotypic analysis of the mis4-LR mutant, comparing it to the rec8-F204S mutant.
  • Biochemical analysis to assess the Rec8-binding activity of the mis4-LR mutant protein.

Main Results:

  • The mis4-LR mutant exhibited phenotypes similar to the rec8-F204S mutant, including defects in chromatin axis formation and homologous recombination, while sister chromatid cohesion was maintained.
  • The identified mutation sites in Mis4 (L1150, R1159) and Rec8 (F204) are located at their putative interaction surface.
  • Biochemical assays demonstrated reduced Rec8-binding activity in the mis4-LR mutant protein.

Conclusions:

  • The Mis4-Rec8 interaction is essential for the proper formation of the Rec8-dependent meiotic chromosome axis.
  • This interaction is critical for homologous chromosome pairing and recombination during meiosis.
  • Mis4's role in loading Rec8 is vital for establishing meiotic chromosome structure and function.

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