Differential distribution and association of repeat DNA sequences in the lateral element of the synaptonemal complex in rat spermatocytes

• Published in: Chromosoma Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 77 - 87
• Main Authors: Hernández-Hernández, Abrahan, Rincón-Arano, Héctor, Recillas-Targa, Félix, Ortiz, Rosario, Valdes-Quezada, Christian, Echeverría, Olga M, Benavente, Ricardo, Vázquez-Nin, Gerardo H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.02.2008; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Chromatin - genetics; Chromatin - metabolism; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; Developmental Biology; DNA Primers; Eukaryotic Microbiology; Genome; Human Genetics; In Situ Hybridization; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Life Sciences; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements - physiology; Male; Meiotic Prophase I - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - immunology; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid - physiology; Research Article; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements - physiology; Spermatocytes - physiology; Synaptonemal Complex - genetics; Synaptonemal Complex - ultrastructure; Terminal Repeat Sequences - physiology; Chromatin Loop; Repeat Element; Recombination Nodule; Repeat Sequence; Synaptonemal Complex
• ISSN: 0009-5915; 1432-0886
• DOI: 10.1007/s00412-007-0128-2

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is an evolutionarily conserved structure that mediates synapsis of homologous chromosomes during meiotic prophase I. Previous studies have established that the chromatin of homologous chromosomes is organized in loops that are attached to the lateral elements (LEs) of the SC. The characterization of the genomic sequences associated with LEs of the SC represents an important step toward understanding meiotic chromosome organization and function. To isolate these genomic sequences, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in rat spermatocytes using an antibody against SYCP3, a major structural component of the LEs of the SC. Our results demonstrated the reproducible and exclusive isolation of repeat deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences, in particular long interspersed elements, short interspersed elements, long terminal direct repeats, satellite, and simple repeats. The association of these repeat sequences to the LEs of the SC was confirmed by in situ hybridization of meiotic nuclei shown by both light and electron microscopy. Signals were also detected over the chromatin surrounding SCs and in small loops protruding from the lateral elements into the SC central region. We propose that genomic repeat DNA sequences play a key role in anchoring the chromosome to the protein scaffold of the SC.