Meiotic Recombination Remote from Prominent DNA Break Sites in S. pombe

• Published in: Molecular cell Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 253 - 263
• Main Authors: Young, Jennifer A., Schreckhise, Randall W., Steiner, Walter W., Smith, Gerald R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2002
• Subjects: Chromosome Breakage; Chromosome Mapping; Chromosomes, Fungal - genetics; Chromosomes, Fungal - ultrastructure; Crossing Over, Genetic - physiology; DNA Repair; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - physiology; Gene Conversion - physiology; Meiosis; Models, Genetic; Rad50 protein; Recombination, Genetic - physiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Schizosaccharomyces - genetics; Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins - genetics; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins - physiology
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/S1097-2765(02)00452-5

DNA breakage is intimately associated with meiotic recombination in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Sites of prominent DNA breakage were found ∼25 to ∼200 kb apart in the genomic regions surveyed. We examined in detail a 501 kb region of chromosome I and found six sites, or tight clusters of sites, at which ∼2%–11% of the DNA accumulated breaks in a rad50S mutant. In contrast to the discrete, widely spaced distribution of prominent break sites, recombination in this region was more uniformly distributed (0.7–1.6 cM/10 kb) whether the genetic interval tested contained no, one, or more such sites. We infer that although recombination depends upon DNA breakage, recombination often occurs remote from these sites (tens of kilobases away); we discuss mechanisms by which this may occur.