HOMOLOGOUS RECOMBINATION IN FISSION YEAST - ABSENCE OF CROSSOVER INTERFERENCE AND SYNAPTONEMAL COMPLEX

The study of homologous recombination in the fission yeast Schizosacch aromyces pombe has recently been extended to the cytological analysis of meiotic prophase. Unlike in most eukaryotes no tripartite SC struct ure is detectable, but linear elements resembling axial cores of other eukaryotes are retained. They may be indispensable for meiotic recomb ination and proper chromosome segregation in meiosis I. In addition fi ssion yeast shows interesting features of chromosome organization in v egetative and meiotic cells: Centromeres and telomeres cluster and ass ociate with the spindle pole body. The special properties of fission y east meiosis correlate with the absence of crossover interference in m eiotic recombination. These findings are discussed. In addition homolo gous recombination in fission yeast is reviewed briefly.