Faculty Research 1990 - 1999
Meiotic prophase arrest with failure of chromosome synapsis in mice deficient for Dmc1, a germline-specific RecA homolog.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1998
Keywords
Animal, Chromosomes/physiology, DNA-Binding Proteins/analysis/genetics, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique Germ-Line Mutation, Infertility/genetics, Male, Meiosis/physiology, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Oocytes/chemistry/physiology, Prophase/physiology, Rec A Protein/genetics, Recombinant Proteins/analysis/genetics, Recombination, Genetic/physiology, Spermatozoa/chemistry/physiology
First Page
697
Last Page
705
JAX Source
Mol Cell 1998 Apr;1(5):697-705
Grant
GM45415/GM/NIGMS, HD31376/HD/NICHD, CA34196/CA/NCI
Abstract
DMC1 is a meiosis-specific gene first discovered in yeast that encodes a protein with homology to RecA and may be component of recombination nodules. Yeast dmc1 mutants are defective in crossing over and synaptonemal complex (SC) formation, and arrest in late prophase of meiosis I. We have generated a null mutation in the Dmc1 gene in mice and show that homozygous mutant males and females are sterile with arrest of gametogenesis in the first meiotic prophase. Chromosomes in mutant spermatocytes fail to synapse, despite the formation of axial elements that are the precursor to the SC. The strong similarity of phenotypes in Dmc1-deficient mice and yeast suggests that meiotic mechanisms have been highly conserved through evolution.
Recommended Citation
Pittman DL,
Cobb J,
Schimenti KJ,
Wilson LA,
Cooper DM,
Brignull E,
Handel MA,
Schimenti JC.
Meiotic prophase arrest with failure of chromosome synapsis in mice deficient for Dmc1, a germline-specific RecA homolog. Mol Cell 1998 Apr;1(5):697-705