Heyting C
Department of Genetics, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1996 Jun;8(3):389-96. doi: 10.1016/s0955-0674(96)80015-9.
Synaptonemal complexes (SCs) are zipper-like structures which are assembled between homologous chromosomes during the prophase of the first meiotic division. Their assembly and disassembly correlate with the successive chromatin rearrangements of meiotic prophase, namely the condensation, pairing, recombination and disjunction of homologous chromosomes. It was originally thought that SCs created the preconditions for the homologous crossing over of chromosomes by bringing corresponding parts of homologous chromosomes in close apposition. However, this view has been gradually undermined during recent years, and ideas about the roles of SCs have radically changed. SCs are now considered to be structures that both control the number and distribution of reciprocal exchanges between homologous chromosomes (cross-overs) and convert cross-overs into functional chiasmata. How SCs fulfil these roles remains to be elucidated.
联会复合体（SCs）是一种拉链状结构，在第一次减数分裂前期于同源染色体之间组装形成。它们的组装和解聚与减数分裂前期连续的染色质重排相关，即同源染色体的凝聚、配对、重组和分离。最初人们认为，联会复合体通过使同源染色体的相应部分紧密并列，为染色体的同源交叉创造了前提条件。然而，近年来这一观点逐渐受到质疑，关于联会复合体作用的认识也发生了根本性的改变。现在认为，联会复合体是控制同源染色体之间相互交换（交叉）的数量和分布，并将交叉转化为功能性交叉点的结构。联会复合体如何履行这些功能仍有待阐明。
