Synaptonemal Complexes and Meiotic Chromosome Metabolism in Yeast

拟议的实验解决了酵母减数分裂过程中形成的联会复合体的结构和功能。出现在复合体中的蛋白质将被分离和鉴定。针对这些蛋白质的抗体将被提出来，然后用标准的免疫细胞学技术来研究复合体的结构。编码蛋白质的基因也将被分离出来。在相关实验中，克莱克纳博士将分离和鉴定Rad50基因及其产物，然后确定该产物的细胞内位置。对Rad50基因的调控，特别是在减数分裂过程中的调控，也将被研究。减数分裂，或减数分裂，是几乎所有真核生物生命周期中的共同事件。在减数分裂过程中，同源染色体配对和重组，然后分离到子核。到目前为止，人们对真核重组的生化机制或其调控知之甚少。显微镜下观察到带有接触点或突触的成对染色体。这种联会复合体的出现似乎与重组有关。一些酵母突变株，特别是那些受Rad50基因影响的突变株，表现出较低的重组频率。Rad50基因及其产物和联会复合体蛋白质组分的分离和鉴定将为理解真核重组的分子事件奠定坚实的基础。

The proposed experimentation addresses the structure and function of the synaptonemal complexes that form during meiosis in yeast. The proteins present in the complex will be isolated and characterized. Antibody directed against the proteins will be raised and then used to investigate the structure of the complexes using standard immunocytological techniques. The genes encoding the proteins will also be isolated. In related experiments, Dr. Kleckner will isolate and characterize both the rad50 gene and its product, and then determine the intracellular location of the product. Regulation of the rad50 gene, especially during meiosis will also be examined. Meiotic cell division, or meiosis, is an event common to the life cycles of virtually all eukaryotic organisms. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair and recombine, then segregate to the daughter nuclei. As yet, remarkably little is understood about the biochemical mechanism of eukaryotic recombination or its regulation. Paired chromosomes with sites of contact, or synapses have been observed in the microscope. The occurrence of such synaptonemal complexes appears to correlate with recombination. Some yeast mutants, in particular those affected in the rad50 gene, display lowered frequencies of recombination. The proposed isolation and characterization of the rad50 gene, its product and the protein components of the synaptonemal complex will lay a solid foundation for understanding the molecular events of eukaryotic recombination.