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Overlapping and separable activities of BRA-2 and HIM-17 promote occurrence and regulation of pairing and synapsis during Caenorhabditis elegans meiosis

Author

Listed:
  • Jitka Blazickova

    (Masaryk University)

  • Shalini Trivedi

    (Masaryk University)

  • Richard Bowman

    (University of Iowa)

  • Sowmya Sivakumar Geetha

    (Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC)
    Department of Chromosome Biology
    a Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna)

  • Silma Subah

    (McGill University)

  • Michelle Scuzzarella

    (Magee-Womens Research Institute)

  • Alexander Chang

    (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)

  • Uma R. Chandran

    (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)

  • Judith L. Yanowitz

    (Magee-Womens Research Institute
    University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)

  • Sarit Smolikove

    (University of Iowa)

  • Verena Jantsch

    (Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC)
    Department of Chromosome Biology)

  • Monique Zetka

    (McGill University)

  • Nicola Silva

    (Masaryk University)

Abstract

Faithful meiotic segregation requires pairwise alignment of the homologous chromosomes and their synaptonemal complex (SC) mediated stabilization. Here, we investigate factors that promote and coordinate these events during C. elegans meiosis. We identify BRA-2 (BMP Receptor Associated family member 2) as an interactor of HIM-17, previously shown to promote double-strand break formation. We found that loss of bra-2 impairs synapsis elongation without affecting homolog recognition, chromosome movement or SC maintenance. Epistasis analyses reveal previously unrecognized activities for HIM-17 in regulating homolog pairing and SC assembly in a partially overlapping manner with BRA-2. We show that removing bra-2 or him-17 restores nuclear clustering, recruitment of PLK-2 at the nuclear periphery, and abrogation of ectopic synapsis in htp-1 mutants, suggesting intact CHK-2-mediated signaling and presence of a barrier that prevents SC polymerization in the absence of homology. Our findings shed light on the regulatory mechanisms ensuring faithful pairing and synapsis.

Suggested Citation

  • Jitka Blazickova & Shalini Trivedi & Richard Bowman & Sowmya Sivakumar Geetha & Silma Subah & Michelle Scuzzarella & Alexander Chang & Uma R. Chandran & Judith L. Yanowitz & Sarit Smolikove & Verena J, 2025. "Overlapping and separable activities of BRA-2 and HIM-17 promote occurrence and regulation of pairing and synapsis during Caenorhabditis elegans meiosis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57862-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57862-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maikel Castellano-Pozo & Sarai Pacheco & Georgios Sioutas & Angel Luis Jaso-Tamame & Marian H. Dore & Mohammad M. Karimi & Enrique Martinez-Perez, 2020. "Surveillance of cohesin-supported chromosome structure controls meiotic progression," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Cynthia R. Wagner & Lynnette Kuervers & David L. Baillie & Judith L. Yanowitz, 2010. "xnd-1 regulates the global recombination landscape in Caenorhabditis elegans," Nature, Nature, vol. 467(7317), pages 839-843, October.
    3. Diana E. Libuda & Satoru Uzawa & Barbara J. Meyer & Anne M. Villeneuve, 2013. "Meiotic chromosome structures constrain and respond to designation of crossover sites," Nature, Nature, vol. 502(7473), pages 703-706, October.
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