Meiotic silencing in Caenorhabditis elegans

International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology
Eleanor M Maine

Abstract

In many animals and some fungi, mechanisms have been described that target unpaired chromosomes and chromosomal regions for silencing during meiotic prophase. These phenomena, collectively called "meiotic silencing," target sex chromosomes in the heterogametic sex, for example, the X chromosome in male nematodes and the XY-body in male mice, and also target any other chromosomes that fail to synapse due to mutation or chromosomal rearrangement. Meiotic silencing phenomena are hypothesized to maintain genome integrity and perhaps function in setting up epigenetic control of embryogenesis. This review focuses on meiotic silencing in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, including its mechanism and function(s), and its relationship to other gene silencing processes in the germ line. One hallmark of meiotic silencing in C. elegans is that unpaired/unsynapsed chromosomes and chromosomal regions become enriched for a repressive histone modification, dimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me2). Accumulation and proper targeting of H3K9me2 rely on activity of an siRNA pathway, suggesting that histone methyltransferase activity may be targeted/regulated by a small RNA-based transcriptional silencing mechanism.

Citations

Oct 17, 2012·DNA and Cell Biology·Julie M Claycomb
Dec 12, 2012·Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS·Guowen DuanKarl H J Gordon
Nov 25, 2011·Molecular Reproduction and Development·Paula M Checchi, Joanne Engebrecht
Nov 2, 2013·Chromosome Research : an International Journal on the Molecular, Supramolecular and Evolutionary Aspects of Chromosome Biology·Christopher J WedelesJulie M Claycomb
May 6, 2014·Genetics·Sarah Elizabeth AlbrittonSevinç Ercan
Jun 7, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Vasiliki I PantazopoulouEma Anastasiadou
Jul 15, 2015·G3 : Genes - Genomes - Genetics·Yiqing GuoEleanor M Maine
Jan 2, 2016·G3 : Genes - Genomes - Genetics·Vaishnavi RagavapuramScott Everet Baird
May 3, 2015·Journal of Cell Science·Andrew J ModzelewskiAndrew Grimson

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