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Repair of DNA double-strand breaks in plant meiosis: role of eukaryotic RecA recombinases and their modulators

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Abstract

Homologous recombination during meiosis is crucial for the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair that promotes the balanced segregation of homologous chromosomes and enhances genetic variation. In most eukaryotes, two recombinases RAD51 and DMC1 form nucleoprotein filaments on single-stranded DNA generated at DSB sites and play a central role in the meiotic DSB repair and genome stability. These nucleoprotein filaments perform homology search and DNA strand exchange to initiate repair using homologous template-directed sequences located elsewhere in the genome. Multiple factors can regulate the assembly, stability, and disassembly of RAD51 and DMC1 nucleoprotein filaments. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the meiotic functions of RAD51 and DMC1 and the role of their positive and negative modulators. We discuss the current models and regulators of homology searches and strand exchange conserved during plant meiosis. Manipulation of these repair factors during plant meiosis also holds a great potential to accelerate plant breeding for crop improvements and productivity.

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Acknowledgements

We apologize that every significant finding could not be discussed in this review due to space and/or scope limitations. We would like to thank Frédéric Baudat, Eric Jenczewski, and Mathilde Grelon for the fruitful discussions, valuable suggestions, and critical reading of the manuscript. RK is funded by ANR-FIRE ANR-17-426 CE12-0015. The IJPB benefits from the support of the LabEx Saclay Plant Sciences-SPS (ANR-17-EUR-0007). This work has benefited from the support of IJPB's Plant Observatory technological platforms.

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Correspondence to Christine Mézard or Rajeev Kumar.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Frederic Berger.

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Emmenecker, C., Mézard, C. & Kumar, R. Repair of DNA double-strand breaks in plant meiosis: role of eukaryotic RecA recombinases and their modulators. Plant Reprod 36, 17–41 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-022-00443-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-022-00443-6

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