Date of Award

11-2011

Degree Name

MS in Biological Sciences

Department/Program

Biological Sciences

Advisor

Kenneth Hillers

Abstract

Meiosis is the specialized process of cell division utilized during gametogenesis in all sexually reproducing eukaryotes, which consists of one round of DNA replication followed by two rounds of chromosome segregation and results in four haploid cells. Crossovers between homologous chromosomes promote proper alignment and segregation of chromosomes during meiosis.

Crossover interference is a genetic phenomenon in which crossovers are non-randomly placed along chromosomes. Crossover assurance ensures that every homologous chromosome pair obtains at least one crossover during Prophase I. Crossovers physically connect homologous pairs, allowing spindle fibers to attach and separate homologs properly. However, some organisms have shown an ability to segregate chromosomes that fail to receive at least one crossover, a phenomenon termed distributive disjunction.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mutation of either Tid1 or Ndj1 results in a similar defect in crossover interference. The overall number of crossovers is not substantially different from the wild type, however they are distributed more randomly with respect to each other. In this thesis, the roles of Tid1 and Ndj1 on crossover assurance and distributive disjunction have been further elucidated through use of knock-out mutants and tetrad dissection.

To analyze meiotic chromosome segregation in isogenic tid1 and ndj1 strains, the spore viability of dissected tetrads was utilized as an indirect measure of nondisjunction events. An elevated number of 2- and 0- spore viable tetrads were seen in ndj1, but not tid1 yeast, confirming previous results. Elevated 2- and 0- spore viable tetrads are an indication of meiosis I (MI) nondisjunction, commonly resulting from failure of crossover formation. These results suggest crossover assurance is disrupted in njd1, but not tid1 mutants. However, MI chromosome segregation is an indirect readout of crossover formation; distributive disjunction, for example, can lead to proper segregation of achiasmate chromosomes.

To determine if distributive disjunction is functional in yeast, wild type, tid1 and ndj1 versions of diploid yeast carrying a single homeologous pair of chromosomes were constructed. These strains have one chromosome (chr. III or V) replaced with one from a closely related species of yeast. The homeologous chromosome functionally replaces the homolog, however crossovers are significantly reduced between homeologs. A spore viability pattern typical of MI nondisjunction was detected in ndj1 mutants, but not in tid1 mutants. In the context of these homeologs, this pattern is suggestive of a role for Ndj1, but not Tid1, in distributive disjunction. Further, these results suggest that tid1 and ndj1 mutant yeast may not be different in their competence for crossover assurance.

To directly assay competence for crossover assurance in native mutants, the incidence of E0 chromosome pairs (those lacking crossovers) was determined. To do this we assayed crossover formation along the length of chromosome III of isogenic wild type, ndj1 and tid1 mutant strains. The incidence of E0 chromosomes was comparably elevated in both tid1 and ndj1 mutant yeast, suggesting that crossover assurance is nonfunctional in both strains.

We find evidence that supports the idea that interference and assurance are genetically linked. Our data also suggests that distributive disjunction may be genetically separable from some meiotic genes.

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