Collaboration between homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining in repair of meiotic double-strand breaks in Drosophila

Hatkevich, T.; Miller, D. E.; Turcotte, C. A.; Miller, M. C.; Sekelsky, J.

doi:10.1101/2020.06.17.157313

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.06.17.157313

Collaboration between homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining in repair of meiotic double-strand breaks in Drosophila

Hatkevich, T.·Miller, D. E.·Turcotte, C. A.·Miller, M. C.·Sekelsky, J.

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Abstract

Programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) made during meiosis are repaired by recombination with the homologous chromosome to generate, at selected sites, reciprocal crossovers that are critical for the proper separation of homologs in the first meiotic divisions. Backup repair processes can compensate when the normal meiotic recombination processes are non-functional. We describe a novel backup repair mechanism that occurs when the homologous chromosome is not available in Drosophila melanogaster meiosis. In the presence of a previously described mutation (Mcm5A7) that disrupts chromosome pairing, DSB repair is initiated by homologous recombination but is completed by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Remarkably, this process yields precise repair products. Our results provide support for a recombination intermediate recently discovered in mouse meiosis, in which an oligonucleotide bound to the Spo11 protein that catalyzes DSB formation remains bound after resection. We propose that this oligonucleotide functions as a primer for fill-in synthesis to allow scarless repair by NHEJ.

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Hatkevich, T., Miller, D. E., Turcotte, C. A., Miller, M. C., Sekelsky, J.. 2020-06-18. Collaboration between homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining in repair of meiotic double-strand breaks in Drosophila. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.17.157313

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