Mutation of a meiosis-specific MutS homolog decreases crossing over but not mismatch correction

Cell. 1994 Dec 16;79(6):1069-80. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(94)90037-x.

Abstract

MSH4 is a novel meiosis-specific gene required for wild-type levels of spore viability in S. cerevisiae. The predicted product of the MSH4 gene is homologous to the MutS family of proteins; however, msh4-null mutants have no apparent defect in mismatch repair. msh4 mutant strains display wild-type levels of gene conversion and postmeiotic segregation, but they show a reduction in crossing over and a resultant increase in nondisjunction of homologous chromosomes at meiosis I. Immunofluorescence experiments demonstrate that the Msh4 protein is localized to discrete sites on pachytene chromosomes. We propose that Msh4 interacts with a recombination intermediate to influence its resolution.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / classification
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / chemistry
  • Chromosomes, Fungal / ultrastructure
  • Crossing Over, Genetic / genetics*
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Gene Conversion / genetics
  • Genes, Fungal / genetics
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Meiosis / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family / genetics
  • MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein
  • Mutagenesis
  • Nondisjunction, Genetic
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombination, Genetic / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Spores, Fungal / genetics*
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • MSH4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein
  • MutS protein, E coli

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U13999