Telomere-led meiotic chromosome movements: recent update in structure and function

• Published in: Nucleus (Austin, Tex.) Tex.), 2020-01, Vol.11 (1), p.111-116
• Main Authors: Lee, C. Y., Bisig, C. G., Conrad, M. N., Ditamo, Y., Previato de Almeida, L., Dresser, M. E., Pezza, R. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actin Cytoskeleton - metabolism; Chromosome Structures; Chromosomes, Fungal - genetics; Chromosomes, Fungal - metabolism; Csm4; LINC; Meiosis - genetics; Models, Molecular; Mps2; Myo2; rapid prophase movements (RPMs); Saccharomyces cerevisiae - cytology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism; Telomere - genetics; Telomere - metabolism
• ISSN: 1949-1034; 1949-1042
• DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2020.1769456

In S. cerevisiae prophase meiotic chromosomes move by forces generated in the cytoplasm and transduced to the telomere via a protein complex located in the nuclear membrane. We know that chromosome movements require actin cytoskeleton [13,31] and the proteins Ndj1, Mps3, and Csm4. Until recently, the identity of the protein connecting Ndj1-Mps3 with the cytoskeleton components was missing. It was also not known the identity of a cytoplasmic motor responsible for interacting with the actin cytoskeleton and a protein at the outer nuclear envelope. Our recent work [36] identified Mps2 as the protein connecting Ndj1-Mps3 with cytoskeleton components; Myo2 as the cytoplasmic motor that interacts with Mps2; and Cms4 as a regulator of Mps2 and Myo2 interaction and activities ( Figure 1 ). Below we present a model for how Mps2, Csm4, and Myo2 promote chromosome movements by providing the primary connections joining telomeres to the actin cytoskeleton through the LINC complex.