Heritability and genome stability are shaped by meiotic recombination, which is initiated via hundreds of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The distribution of DSBs throughout the genome is not random, but mechanisms molding this landscape remain poorly understood. Here, we exploit genome-wide maps of mouse DSBs at unprecedented nucleotide resolution to uncover previously invisible spatial featu...

During gamete formation, crossover recombination must occur on replicated DNA to ensure proper chromosome segregation in the first meiotic division. We identified a Mec1/ATR- and Dbf4-dependent replication checkpoint in budding yeast that prevents the earliest stage of recombination, the programmed induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), when pre-meiotic DNA replication was delayed. The c...

Meiotic recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is initiated by double-strand breaks (DSB) in chromosomal DNA. These DSB, which can be mapped in the rad 50S mutant yeast strain, are caused by a topoisomerase II-like enzyme, the protein Spo11. Evidence suggests that this protein is located in the axial element of the meiotic chromosome which implies that the DSB are located in these ...

in view of the fundamental role of genetics in development of obesity, the present study aimed to investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism of some obesity-related genes among a subset of obese women living in tabriz, iran. for this purpose, 70 eligible obese women (aged 18-45 years) were genotyped for the uncoupling protein-1 (ucp-1) -3826a>g, ß3-adrenergic receptor (ß3adr) trp64arg, lept...

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA are lethal unless repaired. Faithful repair requires processing of the DSB ends and interaction with intact homologous DNA, which can produce genetic recombinants. To determine the role of nucleases in DSB end-processing and joint molecule resolution, we studied recombination at the site of a single DSB, generated by induction of the I-SceI endonuclease, durin...

Double-strand breaks (DSB) initiate meiotic recombination in a variety of organisms. Here we present genetic evidence that the mei-P22 gene is required for the induction of DSBs during meiotic prophase in Drosophila females. Strong mei-P22 mutations eliminate meiotic crossing over and suppress the sterility of DSB repair-defective mutants. Interestingly, crossing over in mei-P22 mutants can be ...