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Review
. 2017:963:185-196.
doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-50044-7_11.

Wrestling with Chromosomes: The Roles of SUMO During Meiosis

Amanda C Nottke  1   2 , Hyun-Min Kim  1 , Monica P Colaiácovo  3
Affiliations
Review

Wrestling with Chromosomes: The Roles of SUMO During Meiosis

Amanda C Nottke et al. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017.

Abstract

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division required for the formation of haploid gametes and therefore is essential for successful sexual reproduction. Various steps are exquisitely coordinated to ensure accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis, thereby promoting the formation of haploid gametes from diploid cells. Recent studies are demonstrating that an important form of regulation during meiosis is exerted by the post-translational protein modification known as sumoylation. Here, we review and discuss the various critical steps of meiosis in which SUMO-mediated regulation has been implicated thus far. These include the maintenance of meiotic centromeric heterochromatin , meiotic DNA double-strand break repair and homologous recombination, centromeric coupling, and the assembly of a proteinaceous scaffold between homologous chromosomes known as the synaptonemal complex.

Keywords: Double-strand break repair; Homology sorting; Meiosis; SUMO; Synaptonemal complex.

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Figures

Fig. 11.1
Fig. 11.1. A model for the roles of sumoylation in meiotic chromosome dynamics: Centromeric coupling and SC assembly
In budding yeast, Zip1, a structural component of the synaptonemal complex, is required for centromeric coupling early in meiotic prophase I. Once homologous chromosomes are coupled, synapsis ensues. Two distinct waves of sumoylation are believed to participate in these processes. Wave 1 involves centromeric (or pericentromeric) sumoylation and the recognition of SUMO-conjugated products at the centromeres by Zip1 in a Zip3-independent fashion. Thus, centromeric sumoylation may be the result of the activity of an as yet unidentified E3 ligase. Wave 2 involves the Zip3 SUMO E3 ligase and results in the formation of short Zip1 stretches. Initiation of synapsis is not DSB–dependent, however, DSB formation via Spo 11 function is required for the Zip3-dependent Zip1 elongation resulting in a fully-formed SC. Therefore, it appears that sumoylation is important both in the early stages of chromosome pairing/homology sorting and later on in the assembly of the mature SC
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References

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