Evidence for a role for DNA polymerase β in mammalian meiosis

Departments of ^‡Therapeutic Radiology and ^*Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520

Abstract

DNA polymerase β (pol β) is an enzyme possessing both polymerase and deoxyribose phophatase activities. Although pol β is not believed to participate in the replication of genomic DNA, several studies have indicated a role for pol β in DNA repair. The high level of expression of pol β in mouse and rat testes raises the possibility that pol β participates in mammalian meiosis. Using antibody localization, we detect foci that stain with pol β antisera at discrete sites along homologous chromosomes as they synapse and progress through prophase of meiosis I. These data suggest that pol β participates in meiotic events associated with synapsis and recombination.

Footnotes

↵ † A.W.P. and C.A.C. contributed equally to this manuscript.
↵ § To whom reprint requests should be addressed at: Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, Hunter 334, New Haven, CT 06520. e-mail: Joann.Sweasy{at}QuickMail.Yale.edu.
Charles M. Radding, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Abbreviations: pol β, polymerase β; SC, synaptonemal complex; MBP, maltose binding protein.