Lighting up meiosis using fluorescent proteins

What is it about?

This describes a new type of assay to monitor chromosome segregation and meiotic recombination during sexual reproduction of the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast). This visual assay represents a novel, powerful, and easy-to-use experimental tool for fission yeast allowing straightforward analysis of chromosome segregation and homologous recombination defects during meiosis. They also enable the identification and characterization of complex phenotypes in high-throughput cell sorting machines.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This kind of assay allows assessment of the frequency of meiotic recombination, and can also be used as a tool for monitoring chromosome segregation defects. This assay has several advantages over traditional methods for studying meiotic recombination - such as using nutritional markers or Southern blotting of DNA from meiotic yeast cells: (I) spores can be assessed regardless of their viability (ability to form a visible yeast colony), (II) the simplicity of this method will allow its use for high-throughput genetic screens, and (III) achieving large sample sizes is straightforward when using imaging flow cytometry.