Meiosis is a specialized cell division that occurs in reproductive cells during sexual reproduction. It contains once DNA replication following nucleus division twice, thus producing haploid gametes. Fusion of male and female gametes restores genome to the diploid level, which not only ensures the genome stability between generations during sexual reproduction, but also leads to genetic diversity among offspring. Meiosis homologous recombination (HR) is one of the crucial events during meiotic prophase I, and it not only ensures the subsequently faithful segregation of homologous chromosomes (homologs), but also exchanges genetic information between homologs with greatly increasing the genetic diversity of progeny. RAD51 (RADiation sensitive 51) and DMC1 (disruption Meiotic cDNA 1) are essential recombinases for the HR process, and have certain commonalities and differences. In this review, we summarize and compare the conserved and differentiated features of RAD51 and DMC1 in terms of origin, evolution, structure, and function, we also provide an outlook on future research directions to further understand and study the molecular mechanisms in regulation of meiotic recombination.
减数分裂(meiosis)是有性生殖细胞中发生的特殊分裂方式,在这个过程中DNA复制一次,细胞核分裂两次,最终产生单倍体的配子。雌雄配子融合后基因组又恢复到二倍体水平,不仅保证了有性生殖过程中世代间基因组的稳定性,还导致后代的遗传多样性。减数分裂同源重组(homologous recombination, HR)是其前期I的核心事件之一,它不仅保证了后续同源染色体的正确分离,而且允许同源染色体之间遗传信息发生交换,增加了后代的遗传多样性。RAD51 (RADiation sensitive 51)和DMC1 (disruption Meiotic cDNA 1)是HR过程中必需的重组酶,二者有一定的共性和特性。本文从起源、进化、结构和功能等方面总结并比较了它们间的保守和分化,并对未来的研究方向提出了展望,为进一步深入研究减数分裂的重组机制提供了借鉴。.
Keywords: DMC1; RAD51; homologous recombination; meiosis.