In mammals, meiotic recombination occurs at 1- to 2-kb genomic regions termed hotspots, whose positions and activities are determined by PRDM9, a DNA-binding histone methyltransferase. We show that the KRAB domain of PRDM9 forms complexes with additional proteins to allow hotspots to proceed into the next phase of recombination. By a combination of yeast-two hybrid assay, in vitro binding, and coimmunoprecipitation from mouse spermatocytes, we identified four proteins that directly interact with PRDM9's KRAB domain, namely CXXC1, EWSR1, EHMT2, and CDYL. These proteins are coexpressed in spermatocytes at the early stages of meiotic prophase I, the limited period when PRDM9 is expressed. We also detected association of PRDM9-bound complexes with the meiotic cohesin REC8 and the synaptonemal complex proteins SYCP3 and SYCP1. Our results suggest a model in which PRDM9-bound hotspot DNA is brought to the chromosomal axis by the action of these proteins, ensuring the proper chromatin and spatial environment for subsequent recombination events.

• MeSH
• chromatin metabolismus   MeSH
• chromozomy genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• DNA metabolismus   MeSH
• dvouřetězcové zlomy DNA MeSH
• genom MeSH
• histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa genetika   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• homologní rekombinace MeSH
• meióza fyziologie   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• rekombinace genetická fyziologie   MeSH
• spermatocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chromatin MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa MeSH
• PRDM9 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč