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Composition and role of the synaptonemal complex.

M J Moses, M E Dresser, P A Poorman

Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology

|January 1, 1984

Summary

The synaptonemal complex (SC) facilitates homologous chromosome pairing during meiosis. In mice, SC undergoes adjustment, potentially linking recombination and DNA repair during pachytene, with a novel antibody identifying SC proteins.

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is crucial for homologous chromosome pairing during meiotic prophase.
Understanding SC's role in synapsis and recombination is key to meiosis research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dynamic role of the SC in synapsis and its relationship with recombination during mouse meiosis.
To characterize SC protein interactions and potential functions.

Main Methods:

Light and electron microscopy of whole mount spreads from mouse spermatocytes and oocytes.
3H-thymidine autoradiography to detect DNA synthesis.
Immunocytology using a monoclonal antibody against SC proteins.

Main Results:

Synapsis initiates homologously in zygotene and becomes homology-independent in pachytene.
Synaptic adjustment resolves SC configurations, forming straight SCs by late pachytene.
SC-localized DNA synthesis peaks during pachytene, correlating with synaptic adjustment and suggesting a role in recombination repair.
A novel monoclonal antibody binds to SC central region components and cytoplasmic intermediate filaments.

Conclusions:

The SC plays a dynamic role in meiotic chromosome alignment and resolution of structural heterozygosity.
SC-associated DNA synthesis suggests a link between recombination and synaptic adjustment.
Identified SC proteins may share functional attributes with mitotic proteins, indicating conserved roles.

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