Originally published as Genetics Published Articles Ahead of Print on March 31, 2005.

Genetics, Vol. 170, 581-590, June 2005, Copyright © 2005
doi:10.1534/genetics.104.040253

Dynein Promotes Achiasmate Segregation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024

1 Corresponding author: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., A1-162, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109-1024.
E-mail: gsmith{at}fhcrc.org

Most organisms use crossovers (chiasmata) to maintain physical connections between homologous chromosomes that ensure their proper segregation at the first meiotic division. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has a residual ability to segregate homologous chromosomes in the absence of meiotic recombination (achiasmate segregation). Using cytologically tagged chromosomes, we established a role for the microtubule motor dynein in meiotic chromosome segregation. Dhc1, the motor subunit of dynein, is required for chromosome segregation in both the presence and the absence of recombination. Dlc1, a member of the Tctex-1 dynein light-chain family, preferentially affects the segregation of achiasmate chromosomes. Dlc1 is the first identified protein, outside of Drosophila, that preferentially affects achiasmate chromosome segregation. We discuss possible roles of the dynein motor in this process.




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