Research Output
How to halve ploidy during meiosis – Lessons from budding yeast
  Maintenance of ploidy in sexually reproducing organisms requires a specialized form of cell division called meiosis that generates genetically diverse haploid gametes from diploid germ cells. Meiotic cells halve their ploidy by undergoing two rounds of nuclear division (meiosis I and II) after a single round of DNA replication. Research in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) has shown that four major deviations from the mitotic cell cycle during meiosis are essential for halving ploidy. The deviations are (1) formation of a link between homologous chromosomes by crossover, (2) monopolar attachment of sister kinetochores during meiosis I, (3) protection of centromeric cohesion during meiosis I, and (4) suppression of DNA replication following exit from meiosis I. In this review we present the current understanding of the above four processes in budding yeast and examine the possible conservation of molecular mechanisms from yeast to humans.

  • Type:

    Review

  • Date:

    06 April 2012

  • Publication Status:

    Published

  • DOI:

    10.1007/s00018-012-0974-9

  • ISSN:

    1420-682X

  • Library of Congress:

    QH301 Biology

  • Dewey Decimal Classification:

    571 Physiology & related subjects

  • Funders:

    Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Citation

Kerr, G., Sarkar, S., & Arumugam, P. (2012). How to halve ploidy during meiosis – Lessons from budding yeast. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 69(18), 3037-3051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-0974-9

Authors

Keywords

Meiosis, Gametogenesis, Ploidy, Cell cycle, Shugoshin, Monopolin, FEAR,

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