Evidence from a maize desynaptic mutant points to a probable role of synaptonemal complex central region components in provision for subsequent chiasma maintenance

Abstract

Homozygotes for the dsy¹ desynaptic mutant of maize show massive failure of chiasma maintenance during diplotene and diakinesis. Although some chiasmata persist until anaphase I in most microsporocytes expressing this mutant, homozygotes are completely or nearly completely sterile, owing apparently to disjunctive irregularities. Pachytene synaptic errors and some synaptic failure also are found, but recombination nodules are common in homologously synapsed regions, and equational separation of a heterozygous knob into univalents or open arms at diakinesis clearly demonstrates that chiasma failure occurs following crossing-over. A wider than normal synaptonemal complex central region and uniform apparent weakness of central region cross connections to spreading procedures strongly suggest the presence of a genetic lesion in a synaptonemal complex central region component. The dsy¹ mutant may provide an especially important source of material for molecular studies on the nature of chiasma maintenance mechanism.Key words: chiasma maintenance, synaptonemal complex, meiotic mutant.