Superresolution microscopy reveals the three-dimensional organization of meiotic chromosome axes in intact Caenorhabditis elegans tissue

Superresolution microscopy reveals the three-dimensional organization of meiotic chromosome axes in intact Caenorhabditis elegans tissue

Meiosis is the essential cell division process that generates haploid gametes from diploid precursor cells. It relies on a dramatic reorganization of chromosomes around a central axis, which establishes a platform for homologous pairing and its subsequent stabilization by the formation of a proteinaceous structure, the synaptonemal complex, and by physical linkages resulting from crossover recombination events. Despite their central role in regulating key meiotic events, little is known about the organization of the chromosome axes. Here, we use superresolution microscopy, combined with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, to build a three-dimensional model of the synapsed chromosome axis. Our data link axis structure to its functions in synapsis and regulation of partner choice during meiotic double-strand break repair.