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IPK researchers discover new meiotic proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana using TurboID
Genetic variation in breeding is based on recombination events during meiosis. During prophase I, the chromosomes are arranged along the chromosome axes. This arrangement is crucial for meiotic recombination and the genetic diversity of germ cells. A research team led by the IPK Leibniz Institute has now used a TurboID (TbID)-based approach in Arabidopsis thaliana for the first time to identify proteins that are found in close proximity to the meiotic chromosome axes. Not only known but also new meiotic proteins were discovered. The results were published in the journal "Nature Plants".
13/03/2023
During meiosis, the reciprocal genetic exchange between homologous chromosomes through meiotic recombination leads to genetic diversity in the germ cells and thus to genetic variation in the offspring. This recombination takes place in the context of the meiotic chromosome axis. This is a protein structure along which the sister chromatids are organised during prophase I in a loop base arrangement. Data from various organisms indicate that this chromosome axis serves as a scaffold for meiotic recombination.
In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the axis proteins ASY1 and ASY3 are crucial for synapsis and meiotic recombination. Due to the key role of axis proteins such as ASY1 and ASY3 in meiosis, including the frequency and distribution of recombination events, a better understanding of the composition and regulation of plant meiotic chromosomal axes is of great interest," says Dr Stefan Heckmann, head of the research group at the University of Freiburg. Stefan Heckmann, head of the independent „Meiosis“ research group at the IPK. However, plant proteome studies aimed at investigating the composition and regulation of meiotic processes, including chromosome axes, are limited by the limited number of meiotic cells in the flower organs.
Biotin identification (BioID) enables the identification of proteins that are in close proximity to a selected protein. BioID is based on the fusion of this protein with a biotin ligase. This mediates the biotinylation of proteins in close proximity. „We use an improved version of BioID, called TurboID, for the labelling of meiotic chromosomal axis proteins. We fused TbID with the proteins ASY1 and ASY3 to identify proteins close to them in A. thaliana," says Stefan Heckmann. A total of 39 candidates located in the vicinity of ASY1 and/or ASY3 were identified. In addition to already known proteins related to the meiotic chromosome axis, new proteins were also found that play a role during meiosis.
„The successful application of TbID in meiotic cells suggests that the method used may also be suitable for other rare cell types,
says Dr Chao Feng, first author of the study. We expect that the results will enable future research on the identified new candidate proteins and that TbID could be used for the identification of other yet unknown meiotic proteins.
Article from "idw - Informationsdienst Wissenschaft" from 13 March 2023
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