MEI-S332, A DROSOPHILA PROTEIN REQUIRED FOR SISTER-CHROMATID COHESION, CAN LOCALIZE TO MEIOTIC CENTROMERE REGIONS

Mutations in the Drosophila mei-S332 gene cause premature separation o f the sister chromatids in late anaphase of meiosis I. Therefore, the mei-S332 protein was postulated to hold the centromere regions of sist er chromatids together until anaphase II. The mei-3332 gene encodes a novel 44 kDa protein. Mutations in mei-S332 that differentially affect function in males or females map to distinct domains of the protein. a fusion of mei-S332 to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) is fully f unctional and localizes specifically to the centromere region of meiot ic chromosomes. When sister chromatids separate at anaphase II, mei-S3 32-GFP disappears from the chromosomes, suggesting that the destructio n or release of this protein is required for sister-chromatid separati on.