Abstract
When cells are exposed to cycloheximide during the synaptic period of meiotic prophase, the structure of the synaptonemal complex is markedly altered. The bulk of the lateral component is removed. When lily zygotene microsporocytes are subsequently transferred into a culture medium free from cycloheximide, normal synaptonemal complexes are again seen. Modification of the structure of the synaptonemal complex by treatment with cycloheximide for 4 days has little permanent effect on meiosis except at late zygonema or early pachynema. Treatment at this time produces meiocytes in which no synaptonemal complexes reform. When these cells proceed into diplotene and diakinesis they are devoid of chiasmatic chromosomes. The data suggest that the synaptonemal complex is essential if chiasmata are to be formed, and that a unique period exists when the formation can be interrupted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chardard, R.: L'ultrastructure des chromosomes prophasiques méiotiques de quelques Orchidées. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 249, 1386–1388 (1959).
Gassner, G.: Synaptinemal complexes in the achiasmatic spermatogenesis of Bolbe nigra Giglo-Tos (Mantidae). Chromosoma (Berl.) 26, 22–34 (1969).
Hecht, N. B., Stern, H.: A membrane-associated DNA protein complex found in meiotic prophase in Lilium. J. Cell Biol. 43, 51a (1969).
Hotta, Y., Ito, M., Stern, H.: Synthesis of DNA during meiosis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 56, 1184–1191 (1966).
—, Parchman, L. G., Stern, H.: Protein synthesis during meiosis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 60, 575 (1968).
Howell, S. H., Stern, H.: The appearance of DNA breakage and repair activities in the synchronous meiotic cycle of Lilium. J. molec. Biol. 55, 357–378 (1971).
Ito, M., Stern, H.: Studies of meiosis in vitro. I. In vitro culture of meiotic cells. Develop. Biol. 16, 34–53 (1967).
Ledbetter, M. C., Porter, K. L.: A “microtubule” in plant cell fine structure. J. Cell Biol. 19, 239–250 (1963).
Menzel, M. Y., Price, J. M.: Fine structure of synapsed chromosome in F1 Lycopersicon esculentum — Solanum lycopersicoides and its parents. Amer. J. Bot. 53, 1079–1086 (1966).
Meyer, G.:Fine structure of spermatocyte nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster. In: Proc. 2nd Eur. Reg. Conf. Electron Microsc. p. 951–954 Delft (1960).
- A possible correlation between the submicroscopic structure of meiotic chromosomes and crossing-over. In: Proc. 3rd. Eur. Reg. Conf. Electron Microsc., p. 461–462, Prague (1963).
Moens, P. B.: The structure and function of the synaptinemal complex in Lilium longiflorum sporocytes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 23, 418–451 (1968).
—: Multiple core complexes in grasshopper spermatocytes and spermatids. J. Cell Biol. 40, 542–551 (1969).
Moses, M. J.: The synaptinemal complex. Ann. Rev. Genet. 2, 363–412 (1968).
Parchman, L. G., Stern, H.: The inhibition of protein synthesis in meiotic cells and its effect on chromosome behavior. Chromosoma (Berl.) 26, 298–311 (1969).
Roth, T. F.: Changes in the synaptinemal complex during meiotic prophase in mosquito oocytes. Protoplasma (Wien) 61, 346–386 (1966).
—: Cylindrical lens analysis of repeating structures in the meiotic synaptonemal complex. In: Proc. 28th Ann. Meeting Electron Microscope Soc. America (C. J. Arceneaux, ed.), p. 326–327. Baton Rouge: Claitor's Book Store 1970.
—, Parchman, L. G.: Diplotene achiasmatic chromosomes following normal synapsis at pachynema. In: Proc. 25th Am. Meeting, Electron Microscope Soc. America (C. J. Arceneaux, ed.), p. 86–87. Baton Rouge: Claitors's Book Store 1967.
- - Achiasmatic meiocytes produced by cycloheximide disruption of the synaptonemal complex at late zygonema. J. Cell Biol. 43, 120a (1969).
Sen, S. K.: Chromatin organization during and after synapsis in cultured microsporocytes of Lilium in the presence of Mitomycin C and cycloheximide. Exp. Cell Res. 55, 123 (1969).
Venable, J. H., Coggeshall, R.: A simplified lead citrate stain for electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 25, 407 (1965).
Westergaard, M., Wettstein, D. von: Studies on the mechanism of crossingover. IV. The molecular organization of the synaptonemal complex in Neottiella. C. R. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg 37, 239 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (GB 5173X and GB 6476) and the National Institutes of Health (GM 16882).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roth, T.F., Parchman, L.G. Alteration of meiotic chromosomal pairing and synaptonemal complexes by cycloheximide. Chromosoma 35, 9–27 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344680
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344680