Maize AMEIOTIC1 is essential for multiple early meiotic processes and likely required for the initiation of meiosis.

ABSTRACT: Molecular mechanisms that initiate meiosis have been studied in fungi and mammals, but little is known about the mechanisms directing the meiosis transition in other organisms. To elucidate meiosis initiation in plants, we characterized and cloned the ameiotic1 (am1) gene, which affects the transition to meiosis and progression through the early stages of meiotic prophase in maize. We demonstrate that all meiotic processes require am1, including expression of meiosis-specific genes, establishment of the meiotic chromosome structure, meiosis-specific telomere behavior, meiotic recombination, pairing, synapsis, and installation of the meiosis-specific cytoskeleton. As a result, in most am1 mutants premeiotic cells enter mitosis instead of meiosis. Unlike the genes involved in initiating meio

SUBMITTER: Pawlowski WP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2637902 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature