Publications by authors named "Mika T Higashide"
Article Synopsis
- Meiotic recombination starts with programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) that create 3' single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) tails, where one end pairs with a homologous chromatid for DNA synthesis while the other remains attached to its sister.
- The process involves the capture and annealing of the second DSB end with the first end, facilitated by the protein Rad52, which works alongside the ssDNA binding protein, replication protein A (RPA).
- A failure in the Rad52-RPA interaction leads to an accumulation of RPA at crossover sites during meiotic prophase, suggesting that disrupted engagement during recombination might result in DSBs that resemble those seen in mitotic repair processes.
The water-in-oil emulsion transfer method was developed for preparing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and is useful for studying cellular functions under conditions that mimic cellular environments. A shortcoming of this method for encapsulating biochemical reactions is that it requires high sugar concentrations to enable the density effect to transverse the oil-water interface. In this study, we investigated the effects of sugars on GUV preparation and several biochemical reactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe synaptonemal complex (SC) is a proteinaceous structure that mediates homolog engagement and genetic recombination during meiosis. In budding yeast, Zip-Mer-Msh (ZMM) proteins promote crossover (CO) formation and initiate SC formation. During SC elongation, the SUMOylated SC component Ecm11 and the Ecm11-interacting protein Gmc2 facilitate the polymerization of Zip1, an SC central region component.
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