Research report 2008 - Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

The Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 kinase initiates processes required for the segregation of homologous chromosomes in meiosis I

Authors
Zachariae, Wolfgang
Departments

Zachariae: Kontrollmechanismen der Zellteilung durch Proteolyse (Dr. Wolfgang Zachariae)
MPI für molekulare Zellbiologie und Genetik, Dresden

Summary
The research group of Wolfgang Zachariae shows that in yeast, the Dbf4-dependent Cdc7 kinase (DDK) provides a link between premeiotic S phase and the segregation of homologous chromosomes in meiosis I. Independently from its established role in initiating DNA replication, DDK promotes double-strand break formation, the first step of recombination, and the recruitment of the monopolin complex to kinetochores, which is essential for monopolar attachment of sister kinetochores. Thus, activation of DDK both initiates DNA replication and commits meiotic cells to reductional chromosome segregation in meiosis I.

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