Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3220, USA.
Dev Cell. 2011 Nov 15;21(5):934-47. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.09.001. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
Faithful segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis requires pairing, synapsis, and crossing-over. In C. elegans, homolog pairing and synapsis depend on pairing centers (PCs), special regions near one end of each chromosome that interact with the nuclear envelope (NE) and cytoplasmic microtubules. Here, we report that PCs are required for nuclear reorganization at the onset of meiosis. We demonstrate that PCs recruit the Polo-like kinase PLK-2 to induce NE remodeling, chromosome pairing, and synapsis. Recruitment of PLK-2 is also required to mediate a cell cycle delay and selective apoptosis of nuclei containing unsynapsed chromosomes, establishing a molecular link between these two quality control mechanisms. This work reveals unexpected functions for the conserved family of Polo-like kinases, and advances our understanding of how meiotic processes are properly coordinated to ensure transmission of genetic information from parents to progeny.
在减数分裂过程中，同源染色体的忠实分离需要配对、联会和交叉。在秀丽隐杆线虫中，同源配对和联会依赖于配对中心（PC），这是每条染色体靠近一端的特殊区域，与核膜（NE）和细胞质微管相互作用。在这里，我们报告说 PC 对于减数分裂开始时的核重组是必需的。我们证明 PC 招募 Polo 样激酶 PLK-2 来诱导 NE 重塑、染色体配对和联会。PLK-2 的募集对于介导含有未配对染色体的核的细胞周期延迟和选择性凋亡也是必需的，这在这两种质量控制机制之间建立了分子联系。这项工作揭示了保守的 Polo 样激酶家族的意想不到的功能，并增进了我们对减数分裂过程如何被正确协调以确保遗传信息从父母传递给后代的理解。
