Direct Evidence of a Role for Heterochromatin in Meiotic Chromosome Segregation

We have investigated the mechanism that enables achiasmate chromosomes to segregate from each other at meiosis I in D. melanogaster oocytes. Using novel cytological methods, we asked whether nonexchange chromosomes are paired prior to disjunction. Our results show that the heterochromatin of homolog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell 1996-07, Vol.86 (1), p.135-146
Main Authors: Dernburg, Abby F., Sedat, John W., Hawley, R.Scott
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Centromere - genetics
Chromatin - genetics
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster
Euchromatin
Female
Heterochromatin - genetics
In Situ Hybridization
Male
Meiosis - genetics
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Mutation - physiology
Oocytes - physiology
Prophase - genetics
X Chromosome - genetics
X Chromosome - ultrastructure
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Summary:We have investigated the mechanism that enables achiasmate chromosomes to segregate from each other at meiosis I in D. melanogaster oocytes. Using novel cytological methods, we asked whether nonexchange chromosomes are paired prior to disjunction. Our results show that the heterochromatin of homologous chromosomes remains associated throughout prophase until metaphase I regardless of whether they undergo exchange, suggesting that homologous recognition can lead to segregation even in the absence of chiasmata. However, partner chromosomes lacking homology do not pair prior to disjunction. Furthermore, euchromatic synapsis is not maintained throughout prophase. These observations provide a physical demonstration that homologous and heterologous achiasmate segregations occur by different mechanisms and establish a role for heterochromatin in maintaining the alignment of chromosomes during meiosis.
ISSN:0092-8674
1097-4172
DOI:10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80084-7