Abstract
Cohesins are multi-subunit protein complexes that regulate sister chromatid cohesion during mitosis and meiosis. Here we identified a novel kleisin subunit of cohesins, RAD21L, which is conserved among vertebrates. In mice, RAD21L is expressed exclusively in early meiosis: it apparently replaces RAD21 in premeiotic S phase, becomes detectable on the axial elements in leptotene, and stays on the axial/lateral elements until mid pachytene. RAD21L then disappears, and is replaced with RAD21. This behavior of RAD21L is unique and distinct from that of REC8, another meiosis-specific kleisin subunit. Remarkably, the disappearance of RAD21L at mid pachytene correlates with the completion of DNA double-strand break repair and the formation of crossovers as judged by colabeling with molecular markers, γ-H2AX, MSH4, and MLH1. RAD21L associates with SMC3, STAG3, and either SMC1α or SMC1β. Our results suggest that cohesin complexes containing RAD21L may be involved in synapsis initiation and crossover recombination between homologous chromosomes.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / chemistry
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
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Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics*
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Chromosomes, Mammalian / metabolism*
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Cohesins
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Crossing Over, Genetic / genetics
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Crossing Over, Genetic / physiology
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Female
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Gonads / cytology
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Gonads / metabolism
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Male
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Meiosis*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Pachytene Stage
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Phosphoproteins / genetics
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Protein Subunits / genetics
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Protein Subunits / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Sequence Homology*
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Synaptonemal Complex / metabolism
Substances
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Phosphoproteins
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Protein Subunits
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RAD21L protein, mouse
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Rad21 protein, mouse
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Rec8 protein, mouse