During meiosis, each pair of homologous chromosomes typically undergoes at least one crossover (crossover assurance), but these exchanges are strictly limited in number and widely spaced along chromosomes (crossover interference). The molecular basis for this chromosome-wide regulation remains mysterious. A family of meiotic RING finger proteins has been implicated in crossover regulation across eukaryotes. Caenorhabditis elegans expresses four such proteins, of which one (ZHP-3) is known to be required for crossovers. Here we investigate the functions of ZHP-1, ZHP-2, and ZHP-4. We find that all four ZHP proteins, like their homologs in other species, localize to the synaptonemal complex, an unusual, liquid crystalline compartment that assembles between paired homologs. Together they promote accumulation of pro-crossover factors, including ZHP-3 and ZHP-4, at a single recombination intermediate, thereby patterning exchanges along paired chromosomes. These proteins also act at the top of a hierarchical, symmetry-breaking process that enables crossovers to direct accurate chromosome segregation.

中文翻译：

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一个分隔的信号网络介导减数分裂中的交叉控制

在减数分裂过程中，每对同源染色体通常至少经历一次交叉（交叉保证），但这些交换在数量上受到严格限制，并且沿染色体间隔很大（交叉干扰）。这种全染色体调控的分子基础仍然是个谜。减数分裂环指蛋白家族与真核生物的交叉调节有关。秀丽隐杆线虫表达四种这样的蛋白质，已知其中一种 (ZHP-3) 是交叉所必需的。在这里，我们研究了 ZHP-1、ZHP-2 和 ZHP-4 的功能。我们发现所有四种 ZHP 蛋白，就像它们在其他物种中的同源物一样，定位于联会复合体，这是一种不寻常的液晶隔室，在配对的同源物之间组装。它们共同促进了促交叉因子的积累，包括 ZHP-3 和 ZHP-4，在单个重组中间体，从而沿着成对染色体形成交换模式。这些蛋白质还在分层的、破坏对称的过程的顶部起作用，使交叉能够指导准确的染色体分离。