Meiotic silencing and the epigenetics of sex

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: William Kelly, Emory University; Rodolfo Aramayo, Texas A & M University
• Language: English
• Date: 2007-07-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2007 Springer.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10577-007-1143-0
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Chromosome Research
• ISSN: 0967-3849
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 633
• End Page: 651
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by US Public Health Service Grants GM58770 to R.A. and GM63102 to W.K.
• Keywords: X Chromosome; Male; Caenorhabditis elegans; Meiosis; Chromosome Pairing; Drosophila; Recombination, Genetic; Models, Genetic; Epigenesis, Genetic; Biological Evolution; Gene Silencing; Neurospora crassa; Mammals; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Female; Genomic Imprinting; Animals; RNA Interference; X Chromosome Inactivation
• Research Categories: Biology, General

Abstract

The sensing of accurate homologous recognition and pairing between discreet chromosomal regions and/or entire chromosomes entering meiosis is an essential step in ensuring correct alignment for recombination. A component of this is the recognition of heterology, which is required to prevent recombination at ectopic sites and between non-homologous chromosomes. It has been observed that a number of diverged organisms add an additional layer to this process: regions or chromosomes without a homologous counterpart are targeted for silencing during meiotic prophase I. This phenomenon was originally described in filamentous fungi, but has since been observed in nematodes and mammals. In this review we will generally group these phenomena under the title of meiotic silencing, and describe what is known about the process in the organisms in which it is observed. We will additionally propose that the functions of meiotic silencing originate in genome defense, and discuss its potential contributions to genome evolution and speciation.