Well-synchronized populations of oocytes obtained by means of the "pupal system" (Grell, 1973a) have been examined to determine the time of appearance of the synaptonemal complex. The complex first appears in the most advanced oocytes between 132 and 138 hr of female development. Between 138 and 156 hr the complex apparently undergoes a fourfold increase in length. At 150 and 156 hr the complex...

Elongate tripartite structures termed synaptonemal complexes have been observed during meiotic prophase in a number of sexually reproducing animals and plants (5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17) . A complex seen in longitudinal section ("frontal view," 14) appears as three parallel strands . Apparently this triple-stranded structure forms along the entire length of synapsed homologous chromosomes and is a ...

Biological systems exhibit complex patterns at length scales ranging from the molecular to the organismic. Along chromosomes, events often occur stochastically at different positions in different nuclei but nonetheless tend to be relatively evenly spaced. Examples include replication origin firings, formation of chromatin loops along chromosome axes and, during meiosis, localization of crossove...

The synaptonemal complex protein SCP3 is part of the lateral element of the synaptonemal complex, a meiosis-specific protein structure essential for synapsis of homologous chromosomes. We have investigated the fiber-forming properties of SCP3 to elucidate its role in the synaptonemal complex. By synthesis of SCP3 in cultured somatic cells, it has been shown that SCP3 can self-assemble into thic...

Meiosis is unique to germ cells and essential for reproduction. During the first meiotic division, homologous chromosomes pair, recombine, and form chiasmata. The homologues connect via axial elements and numerous transverse filaments to form the synaptonemal complex. The synaptonemal complex is a critical component for chromosome pairing, segregation, and recombination. We previously identifie...

The synaptonemal complex transiently stabilizes pairing interactions between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Assembly of the synaptonemal complex is mediated through integration of opposing transverse filaments into a central element, a process that is poorly understood. We have, here, analyzed the localization of the transverse filament protein SYCP1 and the central element proteins SYC...