Homologous chromosome pairing in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

同源染色体配对是减数分裂的关键步骤。一个核心问题是同源物是如何找到彼此的。裂糖酵母（Schizosaccharomyces pombe）是一个很好的研究配对的模型系统，因为它在“马尾”核振荡过程中有广泛的染色体运动，并且缺乏配对后的突触结构。染色体运动在染色体配对中的作用已通过遗传学方法确立，但配对的机制尚不清楚。该项目的目的是揭示染色体如何进行配对，通过采取细胞生物学和生物物理学的方法。我们将使用lac和tet算子/阻遏物识别系统，通过双色成像观察同源染色体上的特定位点。标记的基因座将被自动跟踪软件跟踪。为了阐明染色体拉伸和弛豫对配对的影响，在核振荡的不同时间点对核运动进行扰动。我们的工作有望揭示pombe染色体配对的生物物理机制。

Pairing of homologous chromosomes is a crucial step in meiosis. A central question is how homo-logues find each other. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an excellent model system to study pairing, because of an extensive chromosome movement in the process of "horsetail" nuclear oscillations and a lack of post-pairing synaptic structures. The role of chromosome movement in chromosome pairing has been established by genetic approaches, yet the mechanism of pairing is poorly understood. The aim of this project is to uncover how chromosomes undergo pairing, by taking cell biological and biophysical approaches. We will observe specific loci on homologous chromosomes by two-color imaging, using lac and tet operator/repressor recognition systems. The labeled loci will be tracked with automated tracking software. Nuclear movements will be perturbed at different time points during nuclear oscillations, in order to elucidate the impact of chromosome stretching and relaxation on pairing. Our work is expected to reveal the biophysical mechanisms underlying chromosome pairing in S. pombe.