Mutation in Mouse Hei10, an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, Disrupts Meiotic Crossing Over

1The successful completion of meiosis I (MI) in the vast majority of multicellular eukaryotes requires replication of the genome, proper signals from somatic support cells, synapsis, and crossing over between homologous chromosomes. The progression of the distinct phases of MI is thought to be orchestrated by periodic synthesis and degradation of cyclins, the activity of cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), the correct establishment of the synaptonemal complex (SC), and the proper functioning of the DNA repair machinery during replication and recombination. The accuracy of the meiotic cell cycle in mammals is monitored both during recombination via the pachytene checkpoint in prophase I or during the spindle checkpoint at metaphase I (reviewed in). While meiocytes of both sexes are sensitive to early recombinational repair defects, the pachytene checkpoint in males is more sensitive to synapsis defects per se than in females. The components of the mammalian pachytene checkpoint and the nature of the fundamental molecular communications triggering cell cycle arrest after recognition of DNA anomalies in prophase I remain elusive.

2The DNA repair machinery is essential for meiotic progression. Genetically programmed double strand breaks (DSBs) are generated and processed by SPO11. DSB formation is followed by recombinational repair facilitated by the RecA homologs RAD51 and DMC1, whose protein products colocalize with ∼300 early recombination nodules on chromosome cores during leptonema. Both are subsequently replaced by the single-stranded binding protein replication protein A (RPA). Foci containing the MutS homolog MSH4 colocalize with RAD51 foci during zygonema and persist into the onset of early pachynema. Roughly half of MSH4 foci appear to be involved in reciprocal recombinations between homologous chromosomes, while the others result in non-crossover gene conversion events. MSH4 and MSH5 form a heterodimeric complex thought to mediate recognition of the Holliday junction. Both the Msh4 −/− and Msh5 −/− knockout mice fail to synapse appropriately and arrest in pachynema. Temporally, Msh4 and Msh5 mark the first appearance of the mismatch repair (MMR) system in prophase I.

3During pachynema, the protein products of the MutL homologs Mlh3 and Mlh1 colocalize with the sites of reciprocal recombination and mark the second appearance of the MMR system in prophase I. MLH3/MLH1 foci appear in early pachynema and are present until early diplonema. Targeted deletion of Mlh3 causes arrest at metaphase I and prevents MLH1 recruitment to the chromosome. Meiocytes deficient in MLH1 fail to complete meiosis owing to loss of bivalent maintenance and disorganized univalents at metaphase I. As evidenced by their respective knockout phenotypes, the spatiotemporal progression from foci containing MSH4/MSH5 to those containing MLH3/MLH1 appears to be a critical event in the transition from susceptibility to a pachytene checkpoint to that of a spindle checkpoint. Interestingly, little is known about the cell cycle-related molecular mechanisms that are responsible for this transition.

4In addition to the role of the DNA repair machinery, meiosis is regulated in part by the synthesis and ubiquitin-mediated degradation of cyclins and their functional relationship with CDKs. There are three cyclins (A1, B1, and B3) that are necessary for or are specifically expressed during mammalian meiosis (reviewed in). Several CDKs have been implicated in the progression of meiosis, including CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6. CDK2 and CDK4 are essential for proper meiosis as both Cdk2 −/− and Cdk4 −/− mice are sterile. Cdk2 −/− spermatocytes arrest in mid-pachynema, whereas Cdk2 −/− oocytes are lost perinatally. Cdk4 −/− mice have reduced viability and display degeneration of primary spermatocytes. Interestingly, CDK2 colocalizes with MLH1 at sites of reciprocal recombination. Beyond this, the role of CDK2 during the progression of MMR in prophase I remains unclear.

5Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis is thought to ensure the properly timed involvement of the cyclins in the meiotic cell cycle. For example, limited proteolytic degradation of meiotic cyclin B1 (CCNB1) is necessary for homolog disjunction and release from MI and the exit from MII in yeast and mammals. Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis involves transfer of ubiquitin by a ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) to a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2), which in turn assembles a ubiquitin chain onto a substrate recruited by a substrate-specific E3 ligase (reviewed in). To date however, very few interactions have been identified between substrate-specific E3 ligases and meiotic cell cycle regulators. One such potential interaction involves the anaphase-promoting complex and CCNB1. The anaphase promoting complex is a large multiprotein complex containing E3-ubiquitin ligase activity thought to be responsible for degradation of meiotic cyclins, including CCNB1.

6Evidence is emerging that ubiquitin conjugation by non-anaphase promoting complex-related pathways occurs during gametogenesis. Male sterility results from targeted disruptions of the ubiquitin-like DNA repair gene Rad23b or the Ubr2 ubiquitin ligase via failure to initiate spermatogenesis and failure to complete MI, respectively. Further, mutations in Hr6b (mouse RAD6 homolog), Siah1a, and F-box protein family members result in MI defects, particularly in males. Despite these phenotypes, none of the above mentioned genes have been directly connected phenotypically or mechanistically to the progression of the cell cycle machinery during meiosis.

7Previously, we reported the results of forward genetic screens to identify mutant alleles of genes necessary for the early stages of MI that lacked recognizable orthologs in other model organisms. Here we report on the characterization of one of these alleles called mei4. Mutant spermatocytes are defective in maintaining interhomolog associations at MI due to a lack of crossing over. Positional cloning led to the identification of a mutation in the mouse ortholog of Human Enhancer of Invasion 10 (Hei10). This gene encodes a putative E3 ligase that has not previously been implicated in meiotic recombination. Defects in Hei10 result in aberrant MMR protein and CDK localization. We proposed that the function of Hei10 during MI reveals a link between cell cycle regulation and the accurate resolution of reciprocal recombination intermediates.

8mei4/mei4 male and female mice are sterile and do not exhibit any other obvious somatic defects. Mutant males produce no sperm, have small testes (unpublished data), and spermatocytes undergo a metaphase I arrest (Figure 1A and 1B). In contrast to normal mice (Figure 1A), mutant testes (Figure 1B) contained no round, elongating (Figure 1A, white arrows), or further differentiated spermatids. Unlike the normal telophase and metaphase structures present in mei4/+ controls (Figure 1A, black arrow and black arrowheads, respectively), mutant metaphase spermatocytes contained abnormal metaphase and anaphase-like cells (Figure 1B, black arrows). The incidence of apoptosis was significantly higher in mei4/mei4 versus wild-type (+/+) tubules (black arrows, Figure 1D versus 1C) (p = 3.28 × 10−15). The gross morphology and histopathology of ovaries from mei4/+ and mei4/mei4 females did not differ (Figure 1E and 1F). Heterozygous and mutant oocytes matured in vitro resumed meiosis as characterized by metaphase plate formation at MI (Figure 1G, white arrow). However, like spermatocytes, most chromosomes in mei4/mei4 oocytes failed to congress to, and align at, the metaphase plate (Figure 1H, white asterisks). Bivalent alignment was rare but did occur (Figure 1H, white arrow).

9Despite severe metaphase abnormalities, mei4/mei4 oocytes developed into two-celled embryos at a frequency similar to mei4/+ oocytes (63% versus 80.2% respectively; p = 0.1769). However, only 5.6% of mei4/mei4 two-cell embryos developed into blastocysts, versus 74% of the two-cell stage embryos from mei4/+ oocytes (p = 0.0001) (Table 1). Therefore, the developmental competency of embryos derived from mei4/mei4 oocytes was lost between the two-cell and blastocyst stage.

10To determine the cause of the aberrant MI in mei4/mei4 spermatocytes, we prepared metaphase spreads. Whereas nineteen metaphase bivalents were present in mei4/+ spreads (Figure 2A), mei4/mei4 spreads contained primarily univalents (Figure 2B). Bivalents were rarely present (Figure 2B, white arrow). The total number of condensed chromosomes (univalents + bivalents) approached 40. These observations suggest that either homologous chromosomes never paired and/or synapsed or did so but failed to remain attached upon entry to metaphase.

11To examine synapsis, we used antibodies to detect the distribution of SC proteins along mutant and wild-type prophase I chromosomes. SYCP3 marks the axial elements of the SC. Wild-type (+/+) and mei4/mei4 spermatocyte chromosome spreads labeled with anti-SYCP3 antibodies revealed the presence of pachytene stage nuclei containing 19 paired chromosomes plus an apparent X-Y pair (Figure 2C and 2D, respectively). However, there was premature homolog separation in diplotene mei4/mei4 spermatocytes (Figure 2E) versus +/+ (Figure 2F). The distribution of SYCP1, a SC transverse element protein that is indicative of synapsis, was normal in mei4/mei4 versus mei4/+ spermatocytes (Figure 2H versus 2G).

12Since mutant spermatocytes are capable of homolog synapsis but defective in maintaining interhomolog attachment, we examined the progress of recombination in these nuclei. RAD51 foci were distributed similarly along zygotene chromosome cores in control and mei4/mei4 spermatocyte nuclei (Figure 3A and 3B), indicating that DSBs formed and that recombinational repair was initiated. We then examined the distribution of two markers of recombination nodules, the MMR molecules MLH3 and MLH1. Mid-pachytene mei4/+ spermatocytes had 1–2 MLH3 foci on each synapsed chromosome (Figure 3C) and ∼23 per nucleus, typical for wild-type meioses. However, no MLH3 foci were evident in mei4/mei4 (Figure 3B). Similar results were obtained with MLH1 (Figure 3E and 3F).

13mei4 was previously mapped to a large region on Chromosome 14 between the markers D14Mit99 and D14Mit266 (Figure 4). In this study, we refined the genetic region containing mei4 to a 0.7-cM (four recombinants out of 572 meioses) region corresponding to 2.33 Mb between the markers D14Mit101 and D14Mit183 on Chromosome 14 (Figure 4A). The mouse Ensembl database (http://www.ensembl.org, version 43, NCBIM36) annotates 62 Refseq genes (Table S1) and 11 other Ensembl annotated genes in this region including a cluster of 28 olfactory receptors. Potential candidate genes for mei4 were prioritized on the basis of known or predicted meiotic function and/or germ tissue expression pattern. For novel genes or genes of unknown function, protein-protein BLAST (blastp) comparisons were made to identify functional domains or regions of homology to known genes or motifs. Three genes warranted further attention under these criteria: poly ADP ribosylase 2 (Parp2), apurinic/apyrimidic endonuclease 1 (Apex1), and the Ensembl novel gene Gm288 (Table S1, numbers 33, 35, and 41 in bold-face type). We performed reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR on testis RNA from mei4/+ and mei4/mei4 animals to detect possible expression variations in Parp2 and Apex1 (Figure 4B, rows 2 and 3, respectively). Primer pairs spanning multiple exons were used for both genes. Both genes appeared to be expressed normally in control and mutant testes. We sequenced all exons of both genes and no mutations were found.

14Gm288 encodes the mouse ortholog of human CCNBP1IP1 (CCNB1 interacting protein 1), also called HEI10. Using RT-PCR, we found an altered length transcript present in both mei4/+ and mei4/mei4 mutants versus +/+ animals (Figure 4B, row 4). Using primers specific to exons 1 and 2, the expected 430-bp product was seen in +/+ and mei4/+ animals. In addition, a 358-bp fragment was also present in mei4/+ heterozygotes (Figure 4C). In mei4/mei4 testes, we observed only the 358-bp product (Figure 4C). RT-PCR analysis of multiple tissue types revealed that Hei10 is transcribed prominently in the testes and 17-d embryo (corresponding to prophase I in females) and to a much lesser degree in other tissues (Figure 4D).

15Sequencing of Hei10 genomic DNA from control and mutant mice revealed a G>T transversion at bp 298 (from the start of the first coding exon, G298T) in mei4/mei4 animals (Figure 5A), which corresponds to the 5′ splice donor site at the 3′ end of exon 1 (Figure 5B, Transcript). Sequencing of cDNA from control and mutant animals showed that G298T causes the use of a cryptic splice donor site 72 bp upstream (GT in position 226) in exon 1. This results in an in-frame, 24 amino acid deletion in the predicted protein product (Figure 5B, Protein, amino acids 76–100) that removes a putative cyclin/CDK interaction domain, the RXL motif (Figure 5B, red RAL). We will refer to the above-described allele as Hei10mei4.

16To investigate the possibility of an error in the progression of the cell cycle, we examined the localization of CDK2, a CDK essential for meiosis, on spermatocyte chromosomes (Figure 6). CDK foci are normally observed at the telomeres, at one to two interstitial sites on each synapsed bivalent, and on the asynapsed portions of the X and Y chromosomes in males. Further, CDK2 colocalizes on pachytene chromosomes with MLH1. Mid-pachytene +/+ spermatocytes displayed CDK2 foci at interstitial sites (Figure 6A, white arrows), telomeres (Figure 6A, open arrowheads), and the X-Y body (Figure 6A, closed arrowheads). In contrast, CDK2 foci were seen at telomeric sites and on the X-Y body on mei4/mei4 pachytene chromosomes (Figure 6B, open arrowheads and white arrow, respectively) but were rarely seen at interstitial sites.

17In this study, we have demonstrated that mei4/mei4 spermatocytes undergo a uniform early metaphase I arrest marked by aberrant chromosome congression (Figure 1). Mutant oocytes show a similar configuration but fail to arrest at early metaphase I and are competent, postfertilization, to reach the two-cell embryonic stage. Immunocytochemical labeling of microspread spermatocytes and 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, dihydrochloride (DAPI) labeling of metaphase chromosomes demonstrates that maintenance of bivalents is lost in all but a few chromosome pairs. Our data show that the high prevalence of univalents in late diplonema and metaphase I are due to a lack of chiasmata.

18Failure to form chiasmata can arise from defects in the DSB system, the MMR system, or in the complexes required for proper SC formation. Normal localization of RAD51 and SYCP3/SYCP1 in mei4/mei4 spermatocyte nuclei indicates that DSB repair and SC formation are not disrupted. However, MLH3 and MLH1 fail to form foci in mei4/mei4 spermatocyte nuclei, suggesting that defects in the MMR system cause chiasmata failure and subsequent metaphase arrest in males (Figure 3).

19Sequencing of Hei10mei4 cDNA identified a shortened transcript produced in the testes. When translated, this mRNA would produce a protein missing 24 amino acids (residues 76–100) in a highly conserved portion of the N-terminal region of HEI10 (Figure 7). This missing region includes a RXL motif (asterisks, amino acids 91–93, RAL) with predicted cyclin/CDK-binding activity. RXL domains are found in CDK substrates such as p107, p21CIP1, and the retinoblastoma protein. Deletion or mutation of the RXL domain or peptides containing the RXL motif inhibit phosphorylation of the CDK substrate and/or eliminate binding. On the basis of data from a cyclin A/CDK2 crystal structure, the RXL domain contacts a highly conserved remote (relative to the active site) binding domain on the cyclin partner. While we cannot rule out the contributions of the other residues in the region, deletion of the RXL domain in Hei10mei4 would abrogate binding of the E3 to its presumed target, a B-type cyclin.

20Alternatively, HEI10 may function as a cell cycle regulator that acts between early and late pachynema. The loss of MLH3/MLH1 foci may be secondary to a possible cell cycle error such as premature exit from G2 before chiasmata are established. As mentioned, cyclins A1, B1, and B3 are essential for meiosis. Deletion of the germ-cell specific cyclin A1 results in a MI spermatogenic arrest in males. Cyclin A1 mRNA and protein are expressed primarily from late pachynema through diplonema of prophase I. CCNB1 is expressed from mid-pachynema through postmeiotic spermiogenesis, and regulation of partial proteolytic degradation of this cyclin is necessary for homolog disjunction in mouse oocytes. In oocytes, CCNB1 is essential for the successful completion of MI as loss of Ccnb1 expression causes accelerated polar body extrusion and inability to enter G2–metaphase meiosis II. Recently, a third mammalian B-type cyclin, cyclin B3 (Ccnb3) has been identified that is highly expressed in prepachytene spermatocytes and the fetal ovary.

21HEI10 has been shown to associate with exogenously expressed human CCNB1 in mitotic cells and in yeast two-hybrid assays utilizing a somatic cell-derived library. Golemis and colleagues suggested that the human protein product of HEI10 functions as a mitotic E3 ubiquitin ligase for CCNB1, ensuring its degradation and thus transition from metaphase I to interphase of meiosis II. In the male germline, however, CCNB1′s activity is highest in postmeiotic spermatids, which is temporally inconsistent with a potential role of HEI10 as a CCNB1 E3 ligase. Further, since Ccnb1 and Hei10 are expressed in many somatic cell types (Hei10, Figure 4D) and mutation of Ccnb1 causes embryonic lethality, one might expect a more pleiotropic somatic phenotype in the Hei10mei4 mutant mice if CCNB1 were the primary target.

22Koff and colleagues identified mammalian CCNB3, a meiotic B-type cyclin that is expressed maximally during the leptotene to zygotene transition, a point just prior to the first observed phenotypic defect in Hei10mei4 homozygotes. This raises the possibility that CCNB3 is the target of HEI10′s B-type cyclin E3 ligase activity in meiosis. Hei10mei4 has a deletion in the putative cyclin-B interaction domain that contains an RXL motif. We speculate that this mutation abrogates an association between HEI10 and CCNB3. This scenario may explain the observed defects in crossing over, homolog attachment, and congression to the metaphase plate. Alternatively, normal HEI10 may target any of a number of cyclin-B related sequences found in the genome but as yet unstudied in meiosis.

23In females, where anaphase I begins despite these errors, missegregation is the inevitable result. Interestingly, the Hei10mei4 phenotype in oocytes is similar, but not identical, to that of Mlh3 −/− and Mlh1 −/− mice. Only 7% of Mlh3 −/− and 13.6% of Mlh1 −/− oocytes reach the two-cell stage, and none reach the four-cell stage, whereas 63% of Hei10mei4 zygotes reach the two-cell stage with a small portion (5.6%) even capable of forming a blastocyst. This difference may suggest that HEI10 is not directly involved in MMR but rather serves to couple MMR to the cell cycle machinery. Further, in Mlh3 −/− and Mlh1 −/− mice, expression of both proteins is abrogated. Currently, we have no data suggesting that MLH3 or MLH1 protein levels are altered in Hei10mei4 mice, only that their localization with respect to the chromosome cores has changed. Noncore-associated MLH3 and MLH1 may be present and may affect the progression of late prophase or metaphase I in Hei10mei4 females.

24The genetic and cytological data presented here are supportive of a key role for Hei10mei4 in mouse meiosis. Toby and colleagues previously demonstrated a role for (human) HEI10 in the mitotic cell cycle. Our data show that Hei10 is transcribed in many somatic tissues but at considerably lower levels than in testes (Figure 4D). While the effect of the mutation in meiosis is dramatic, we have not identified any obvious defects in Hei10mei4 mice other than infertility. One possible explanation is that while Hei10 is expressed in many tissues at lower levels than in testis, its hypothesized in vivo target (CCNB3) is primarily expressed in germ cells. Thus, the effects in somatic cells may be subtle.

25Alternatively, as a putative B-type E3 ligase, HEI10 may play an essential role maintaining accurate euploid segregation at the meiotic prophase I-metaphase I boundary and the mitotic G2–metaphase boundary. Errors in either, even if relatively rare, could lead to aneuploid segregation and/or neoplasia. Notably, Mine and colleagues have shown that HEI10 resides at a fusion breakpoint in some uterine leiomyomas, a benign tumor of the reproductive system. We have not noticed an elevated tumor incidence in Hei10mei4 mice.

26Several years ago, we initiated a forward genetic screen with the goal of identifying novel genes required for gametogenesis, with an emphasis on those required for meiosis. Although meiosis is a highly conserved process, it is noteworthy that two (mei4 and Mei1) mutations cloned from these screens do not have direct orthologs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, or Caenorhabditis elegans. Hei10 is conserved among deuterostomes but has not been found in protostomes or unicellular organisms and may serve as a marker of the modification of sexual reproduction during a major transition in the animal lineage. Among deuterostomes, sequence identity is highest in the N-terminal portion of the protein containing the RING finger and a coiled coil domain (Figure 7, amino acids 1–197). The C-terminal portion (residues 198 to the end) of the protein exhibits reduced sequence identity when compared to the N terminus. Interestingly, Hei10 orthologs have not been found in Gallus gallus or Taeniopygia guttata (zebra finch). These results may reflect incomplete sequence coverage in the Hei10 syntenic region in chicken or zebra finch or may be the result of divergent meiotic evolution in avian taxa. The identification of Hei10mei4 and Mei1 validate the efficacy of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea screens in mammals as a tool to identify novel genes required for meiosis.

27The Hei10mei4 phenotype sheds light on the role of CDK2 in meiotic progression. Cdk2 −/− mice fail to complete MI because of an arrest in early prophase I by presumably triggering the pachytene checkpoint. CDK2 foci are normally found at telomeric sites from zygonema through diplonema but at interstitial crossover sites and the unsynapsed portion of the X and Y chromosomes only from mid-pachynema through early-diplonema. In mei4/mei4 males, which arrest at metaphase I, CDK2 is normally localized to the telomeres and sex chromosomes but, interestingly, is absent at interstitial sites (Figure 6B). Therefore, in the mei4/mei4 background, the presence of CDK2 at the telomeres and/or the XY body, but not at the interstitial sites, is necessary to bypass the pachytene checkpoint. The correlation of the loss of CDK2 and MLH3/MLH1 foci at interstitial sites on mei4/mei4 spermatocyte chromosome cores suggests a role for CDK2 mediation of MMR during prophase I.

28Hei10mei4 provides evidence of a functional connection between the cell cycle machinery via CDK2 (and possibly via B-type cyclins) and the DNA repair machinery during prophase I. The Hei10mei4 variant has a deletion in the proposed B-type cyclin interaction domain (RXL). CCNB3 has been shown to interact with CDK2. CDK2 also interacts with MLH1 at sites of recombination in mid-late pachynema and is essential for meiosis. We envision a mechanism by which HEI10 mediates the destruction of CCNB3, permitting CDK2 association with MLH1 or other MMR proteins in recombination nodules on the chromosome cores (Figure 8A). As suggested by Ashley and colleagues, this interpretation is consistent with CDK2 having a substrate in the recombination nodules. In our model, HEI10mei4 fails to recruit CCNB3 to the E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme causing the accumulation or mislocalization of CCNB3 during early pachynema. Elevated levels of CCNB3 may preclude CDK2 association with the interstitial sites on chromosome cores and association with the MMR machinery leading to a failure of the MMR system during recombination (Figure 8B). We are currently testing these hypothesized interactions in vitro. The precise in vivo order of these events and molecular interactions involving CCNB3 are not well resolved and await the development of high-quality antibodies to CCNB3.

29In conclusion, we have demonstrated a novel mouse mutation (Hei10mei4) that disrupts chiasmata formation and contributes to aberrant meiotic chromosome congression in mice via an interruption of both cell cycle machinery and the MMR system. We have linked the defects to Hei10, a putative E3 ubiquitin ligase with B-type cyclin specificity. They also suggest a role for CDK2 as regulator of recombination competence. These results provide new insights into the mechanistic control and the cell cycle regulation of mammalian meiotic DNA repair systems.

30Mice were obtained from and maintained at The Jackson Laboratory and the Middlebury College Research Animal Facility according to the procedures outlined by the IACUC committees at both institutions.

31Ovaries were removed from females 44 h after treatment of 3-wk-old female mice with equine chorionic gonadotropin (Organon, http://www.organon.com) and manually disrupted to release oocytes. The released oocytes were cultured as described to test for spontaneous resumption of meiosis. The oocytes were examined using a stereomicroscope after 15 h of culture and assessed for germinal vesicle breakdown, indicative of the resumption of meiosis and the presence of a polar body, which is usually characteristic of progression to metaphase II.

32Oocytes at metaphase II were washed three times in minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with 3 mg/ml BSA. In vitro fertilization and culture were performed as described previously. Eggs were removed from fertilization drops after 4–6 h, rinsed twice in 2.5 ml MEM, and cultured overnight in a borosilicate tube with 1 ml of fresh medium. At 25 h postfertilization, cleavage-stage embryos were rinsed twice with KSOM medium supplemented with essential and nonessential amino acids and 1 mg/ml BSA (KSOM/AA) and cultured to the blastocyst stage in 1 ml KSOM/AA medium in borosilicate tubes.

33Testes were fixed in Bouin's solution for >24 h before being embedded in paraffin. We cut 5-mm sections, and they were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E). Digital images were obtained with either an Olympus BX51 upright microscope fitted with an Olympus MagniFire CCD (The Jackson Laboratory) or a Zeiss Axioskop 2 plus microscope fitted with a Zeiss Axiocam MRm digital camera using AxioVision 4.4 software (Middlebury College Imaging Facility).

34Testes from prepubertal males 17–24 d postpartum (dpp) were microspread and immunolabeled as described previously and counterstained with DAPI (Molecular Probes, http://probes.invitrogen.com) to visualize DNA. Antibodies used were anti-b tubulin (Sigma, http://www.sigmaaldrich.com), anti-SYCP3 (0.8mg/ml) (Abcam, http://www.abcam.com), anti-MLH3 (1:500) (gift from P. E. Cohen), anti-MLH1 (1:50) (BD Biosciences, http://www.bdbiosciences.com), anti-CDK2 (1:300) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, http://www.scbt.com), anti-SYCP1 (1:500) (Abcam), and anti-RAD51 (1:600) (Calbiochem, http://www.emdbiosciences.com).

35Oocytes were collected, cultured (described above), fixed, and stained for DNA and b-tubulin as previously described.

36Testes were obtained from +/+, mei4/+, and mei4/mei4 mutant mice that were between 2 and 4 mo old. Apoptosis in paraffin embedded testes was assessed using ApopTag Plus Peroxidase In Situ Apoptosis Detection kit (Chemicon, http://www.chemicon.com). Tissue section images were taken using an Axiovert 200 microscope and AxioCamMRc camera using AxioVision 4.4 software. Apoptotic cells were imaged and counted in 0.146-mm2 fields of view (200× total magnification) that were representative of the highest level of apoptosis for each section. A total of six such images from each animal for each genotype were compared from two independent and replicable experiments.

37Linkage was implicated by the association of phenotype with homozygosity for C57B6/J, the parental strain that was mutagenized. Additionally, heterozygous animals were crossed to wild-type CAST/Ei animals to take advantage of the higher degree of polymorphism between C57BL/6J and CAST/Ei.

38Approximately 2-mm tail tips were lysed and directly used as template in subsequent standard PCR reactions. PCR products were separated by electrophoresis on a horizontal 4.0% MetaPhor (Cambrex, http://www.cambrex.com) gel.

39C57BL/6J +/+ and mei4/mei4 mutant total RNA was extracted from homogenized testis tissue with RNeasy Mini kit (Qiagen, http://www1.qiagen.com). We then used 3 μg of total RNA as template for RT-PCR that was performed using First-strand cDNA Synthesis kit (Fermentas, http://www.fermentas.com). We amplified 1.5 μl of normalized wild-type and mei4 mutant cDNA in parallel 25-μl PCR reactions to see whether expression of these genes was different in wild-type and mei4 mutant animals. Expression analysis was performed using primers specific for Parp-2, Apex1, Hei10 (Table S2, MEI10cDNA1F.2 and MEI10cDNA2R.1), and beta-actin (Actb). Amplifications of Hei10 mutant transcript were then isolated using the QIAquick PCR Purification kit and bidirectionally sequenced on an Applied Biosystems 3130 Automated sequencer (Applied Biosystems, http://www.appliedbiosystems.com). Relative tissue expression was then analyzed by PCR and electrophoresis with a normalized Multiple Tissue cDNA Panel (BD Biosciences). PanelcDNAEx1F.1 and PanelcDNAExon3R primers (Table S2) were designed to match manufacturer's suggested product size and annealing temperature. Gapdh controls were amplified with 22 cycles while Hei10 transcripts were amplified with 37 cycles using manufacturers cycling parameters.

40Sixteen PARP-2 exons, five APEX1 exons, and three Hei10 exons were amplified from genomic DNA template, and products were then isolated with the QIAquick Gel Extraction kit or PCR purification kit (Qiagen). Mutant sequences (in the case of Hei10) were identified and sequencing analysis was repeated with another mutant individual and one heterozygote and compared to sequence gathered from C57BL/6J, Cast/Ei, and C3HeB/FeJ control mice. MEI10Ex1F and MEI10Ex1R (Table S2) were used to amplify and sequence the first exon of Hei10.

41To determine significance in our apoptotic cell counts we used a one-tailed, unequal variance Student's t-test. Significance during in vitro fertilization and blastocyst culture was also determined using a one-tailed t-test.

42The Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org) sequence accession information for HEI10 and its orthologs discussed in this paper are as follows: H. sapiens, ENSP00000337396; M. musculus, ENSMUSP00000093622; C. familiaris, ENSCAFP00000008029; B. Taurus, 1ENSBTAP00000012337; M. domestica, ENSMODP00000008960; ENSOANP00000001628; X. tropicalis, ENSXETP00000037001; G. aculeatus, ENSGACP00000025421; D. rerio, XP_691290; C. intestinalis, ENSCINP00000019943; and S. purpuratus, XP_780975. The Ensembl Gene ID for Gm288 is ENSMUSG00000071470.