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Meiosis is the generation of germ cells (eggs and sperm). In meiosis, DNA replication is followed by two division cycles: meiosis I, which segregates homologous chromosomes and meiosis II, which segregates sister chromatids. Thus, four daughter cells are generated that each contains one homologue of each chromosome.
Meiotic cells deliberately break their DNA to allow chromosomes to swap genetic material. Here, authors reveal genetically separable pathways controlling the seeding and growth of chromosome-bound protein condensates responsible for DNA breaks.
Meiosis is a specialized cell division for generating germ cells. The authors show that the lipid composition in the cellular membrane influences meiosis-specific chromosomal dynamics in mouse testis.
Gene expression dynamics are tightly regulated during spermatogenesis, with disruptions resulting in infertility. Here they identify a critical role for RNA PolII pausing in spermatogenesis and show that loss of the RNA PolII pausing factor NELF causes meiotic arrest.
Midbodies form during cell division and play roles in cell function and fate. Here, the authors show that the meiotic midbody in mouse oocytes has a specialized cap structure required to retain nascent proteins in eggs and for full developmental competence.
Genetic exchange has been experimentally demonstrated for Leishmania during sand fly development, indicating a meiotic mechanism. Here the authors show that meiosis-related genes HOP1 and HAP2-2 are essential for Leishmania hybridization in vitro and in sand flies and that their deletion in one or both parents hinders mating competence.
A study in Science reports that corn snakes use both PRDM9 and promoter-like features to direct meiotic recombination, indicating that these are not mutually exclusive.
Suppressing ovulation protects against chromosomal abnormalities in ageing mouse oocytes, which can be partly explained by increasing REC8–cohesin retention on chromosomes.
Facultative heterochromatin occurs at regions that contain developmentally regulated genes. A study now reveals that the nutrient-sensitive TORC1 signalling pathway affects the RNA elimination machinery, thereby regulating the timely expression of meiotic genes embedded in facultative heterochromatic loci.
Independent efforts shine light on the 3D genome structure by looking at multiple contacts along an allele or equalizing the distance between restriction sites for higher-resolution Hi-C maps.
