biostudies-literatureLeung WKMedical Research CouncilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council785-93https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4657171biostudies-literatureUnknown211(4)During meiotic prophase I, proteinaceous structures called synaptonemal complexes (SCs) connect homologous chromosomes along their lengths via polymeric arrays of transverse filaments (TFs). Thus, control of TF polymerization is central to SC formation. Using budding yeast, we show that efficiency of TF polymerization closely correlates with the extent of SUMO conjugation to Ecm11, a component of SCs. HyperSUMOylation of Ecm11 leads to highly aggregative TFs, causing frequent assembly of extrachromosomal structures. In contrast, hypoSUMOylation leads to discontinuous, fragmented SCs, indicative of defective TF polymerization. We further show that the N terminus of the yeast TF, Zip1, serves as an activator for Ecm11 SUMOylation. Coexpression of the Zip1 N terminus and Gmc2, a binding partnThe Journal of cell biologyThe synaptonemal complex is assembled by a polySUMOylation-driven feedback mechanism in yeast.PMC4657171BB/I009159/1Afshar NArgunhan BTerentyev YTsubouchi THumphryes NTsubouchi HLeung WKfalseThe synaptonemal complex is assembled by a polySUMOylation-driven feedback mechanism in yeast.During meiotic prophase I, proteinaceous structures called synaptonemal complexes (SCs) connect homologous chromosomes along their lengths via polymeric arrays of transverse filaments (TFs). Thus, control of TF polymerization is central to SC formation. Using budding yeast, we show that efficiency of TF polymerization closely correlates with the extent of SUMO conjugation to Ecm11, a component of SCs. HyperSUMOylation of Ecm11 leads to highly aggregative TFs, causing frequent assembly of extrachromosomal structures. In contrast, hypoSUMOylation leads to discontinuous, fragmented SCs, indicative of defective TF polymerization. We further show that the N terminus of the yeast TF, Zip1, serves as an activator for Ecm11 SUMOylation. Coexpression of the Zip1 N terminus and Gmc2, a binding partn2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Nov2025-04-26T16:22:15.739Z2019-03-27T02:02:37ZS-EPMC46571712659861510.1083/jcb.201506103