Crossover recombination and synapsis are linked by adjacent regions within the N terminus of the Zip1 synaptonemal complex protein
Accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis relies on the prior establishment of at least one crossover recombination event between homologous chromosomes, which is often associated with the meiosis-specific MutS{gamma} complex. The recombination intermediates that give rise to MutS{gamma} interhomolog crossovers are embedded within a hallmark meiotic prophase structure called the synaptonemal complex (SC), but the mechanisms that coordinate the processes of SC assembly (synapsis) and crossover recombination remain poorly understood. Among known central region building blocks of the budding yeast SC, the Zip1 protein is unique for its SC-independent role in promoting MutS{gamma} crossovers. Here we report that adjacent regions within Zip1s unstructured N terminus encompass its crossover and SC assembly functions. We previously showed that deletion of Zip1 residues 21-163 abolishes tripartite SC assembly and prevents the robust SUMOylation of the SC central element component, Ecm11, but allows excess MutS{gamma} crossover recombination. We find the reciprocal phenotype when Zip1 residues 2-9 or 10-14 are deleted; in these mutants SC assembles and Ecm11 is hyperSUMOylated, but MutS{gamma} crossovers are strongly diminished. Interestingly, Zip1 residues 2-9 or 2-14 are required for the normal localization of Zip3, a putative E3 SUMO ligase and pro-MutS{gamma} crossover factor, to Zip1 polycomplex structures and to recombination initiation sites. By contrast, deletion of Zip1 residues 15-20 does not detectably prevent Zip3s localization at Zip1 polycomplex and supports some MutS{gamma} crossing over but prevents normal SC assembly and robust Ecm11 SUMOylation. These results highlight distinct N terminal regions that are differentially critical for Zip1s roles in crossover recombination and SC assembly; we speculate that the adjacency of these regions enables Zip1 to serve as a liaison, facilitating crosstalk between the two processes by bringing crossover recombination and synapsis factors in close proximity to one another.