As the initiator of DNA double-strand breaks during meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the SPO11 protein is essential for recombination. Similarity between SPO11 and archaebacterial TOP6A proteins points to evolutionary specialization of a DNA cleavage function for meiotic recombination. To determine whether this extends to mammals, we isolated and characterized mouse and human SPO11 cDNAs. Mammalian SPO11 genes were found to be expressed at high levels only in testis, wherein mouse Spo11 transcript is restricted primarily to meiotic germ cells and is maximally expressed at midpachynema. Mouse Spo11 is located near the distal end of chromosome 2, while human SPO11 is found in the homologous position of chromosome 20q13.2-13.3, a region that is amplified in some breast cancers. Sequence homology and differential expression together support a highly conserved role for SPO11 in the enzymatic cleavage of DNA that accompanies meiotic recombination.
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Article Synopsis
- Scientists have found that DNA Double Strand Breaks (DSBs) are important for a process called meiotic recombination, which helps chromosomes mix genes properly during cell division.
- They suggest a 'multi-key lock' model to control these risky breaks and a 'one per pair of chromatids' idea to help ensure they happen safely.
- If there are too many or too few DSBs, it can lead to problems, like broken chromosomes or not getting the right number of chromosomes, which can mess up reproduction.
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