Hybrid DNA formation during meiotic recombination

Abstract

G234 is a silent mutation located in the middle of gene b2, which controls spore pigmentation in Ascobolus immersus. Its effect on the aberrant segregation patterns of while spore mutants located in the same gene was investigated. When heterozygous, G234 decreases the frequency of aberrant segregations of the mutants located on its right, toward the low conversion end. It almost completely suppresses the aberrant 4:4 asci for mutants giving postmeiotic segregation and decreases the disparity between the 6 wild-type:2 mutant and 2 wild-type:6 mutant aberrant asci for mutants giving only these types of convertant asci. These effects are polar; G234 does not change the aberrant segregation pattern of the mutants located on its left, toward the high conversion end. This behavior suggests that G234 blocks the migration of the symmetric phase of hybrid DNA that diffuses from the high conversion end but does not prevent the formation of asymmetrical hybrid DNA. Taking into account previous observations, we conclude that the high conversion end corresponds to a region of asymmetric initiation of recombination rather than to a region of preferential ending of recombination. The asymmetric hybrid DNA first formed is further changed into a symmetric phase that extends via branch migration toward the low conversion end.