ATM controls meiotic DNA double-strand break formation and recombination and affects synaptonemal complex organization in plants

ATM controls meiotic DNA double-strand break formation and recombination and affects synaptonemal complex organization in plants

Abstract

Meiosis is a specialized cell division that gives rise to genetically distinct gametic cells. Meiosis relies on the tightly controlled formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and their repair via homologous recombination for correct chromosome segregation. Like all forms of DNA damage, meiotic DSBs are potentially harmful and their formation activates an elaborate response to inhibit excessive DNA break formation and ensure successful repair. Previous studies established the protein kinase ATM as a DSB sensor and meiotic regulator in several organisms. Here we show that Arabidopsis ATM acts at multiple steps during DSB formation and processing, as well as crossover (CO) formation and synaptonemal complex (SC) organization, all vital for the successful completion of meiosis. We developed a single-molecule approach to quantify meiotic breaks and determined that ATM is essential to limit the number of meiotic DSBs. Local and genome-wide recombination screens showed that ATM restricts the number of interference-insensitive COs, while super-resolution STED nanoscopy of meiotic chromosomes revealed that the kinase affects chromatin loop size and SC length and width. Our study extends our understanding of how ATM functions during plant meiosis and establishes it as an integral factor of the meiotic program.

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Authors
  • Kurzbauer, Marie-Therese
  • Janisiw, Michael Peter
  • Paulin Paz, Luis
  • Mota, Ignacio Prusén
  • Tomanov, Konstantin
  • Krsicka, Ondrej
  • von Haeseler, Arndt
  • Schubert, Veit
  • Schlögelhofer, Peter
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Shortfacts
Category
Journal Paper
Divisions
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Journal or Publication Title
The Plant Cell
ISSN
1040-4651
Publisher
Oxford Academic Journals
Place of Publication
Oxford
Page Range
pp. 1633-1656
Volume
33
Date
5 February 2021
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