RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Synaptonemal complex components are required for meiotic checkpoint function in C. elegans JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 052977 DO 10.1101/052977 A1 Tisha Bohr A1 Guinevere Ashley A1 Evan Eggleston A1 Kyra Firestone A1 Needhi Bhalla YR 2016 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/05/12/052977.abstract AB Synapsis involves the assembly of a proteinaceous structure, the synaptonemal complex (SC), between paired homologous chromosomes and is essential for proper meiotic chromosome segregation. In C. elegans, the synapsis checkpoint selectively removes nuclei with unsynapsed chromosomes by inducing apoptosis. This checkpoint depends on Pairing Centers (PCs), cis-acting sites that promote pairing and synapsis. We have hypothesized that the stability of homolog pairing at PCs is monitored by this checkpoint. Here, we report that synaptonemal complex components SYP-3, HTP-3, HIM-3 and HTP-1 are required for a functional synapsis checkpoint. Mutation of these components does not abolish PC function, indicating they are bonafide checkpoint components. These data suggest that, in addition to homolog pairing, SC assembly may be monitored by the synapsis checkpoint.