SPO11
Encyclopedia
Spo11 is a protein
used in a complex along with Mre11 and Rad50
during meiotic recombination
. It is also involved in the creation of double stranded breaks in the DNA
in the early stages of this process. Its active site contains a tyrosine which ligates and dissociates with DNA to promote break formation. One Spo11 protein is involved per strand of DNA, thus two Spo11 proteins are involved in each double stranded break event.
Genetic exchange between two DNA molecules by homologous recombination
begins with a break in both strands of DNA—called a double-strand break—and recombination is started by an endonuclease
enzyme that cuts the DNA molecule that "receives" the exchanged DNA. In meiosis
the enzyme is SPO11, which is related to DNA topoisomerase
s. These enzymes change DNA by transiently breaking one or both strands, passing the unbroken DNA strand or strands through the break and repairing the break. The broken ends of the DNA are covalently linked to the enzyme. SPO11 is similarly attached to the DNA when it forms double-strand breaks during meiosis.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
used in a complex along with Mre11 and Rad50
RAD50 (gene)
DNA repair protein RAD50, also known as RAD50, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAD50 gene.- Function :The protein encoded by this gene is highly similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad50, a protein involved in DNA double-strand break repair. This protein forms a complex with MRE11 and...
during meiotic recombination
Genetic recombination
Genetic recombination is a process by which a molecule of nucleic acid is broken and then joined to a different one. Recombination can occur between similar molecules of DNA, as in homologous recombination, or dissimilar molecules, as in non-homologous end joining. Recombination is a common method...
. It is also involved in the creation of double stranded breaks in the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
in the early stages of this process. Its active site contains a tyrosine which ligates and dissociates with DNA to promote break formation. One Spo11 protein is involved per strand of DNA, thus two Spo11 proteins are involved in each double stranded break event.
Genetic exchange between two DNA molecules by homologous recombination
Homologous recombination
Homologous recombination is a type of genetic recombination in which nucleotide sequences are exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of DNA. It is most widely used by cells to accurately repair harmful breaks that occur on both strands of DNA, known as double-strand breaks...
begins with a break in both strands of DNA—called a double-strand break—and recombination is started by an endonuclease
Endonuclease
Endonucleases are enzymes that cleave the phosphodiester bond within a polynucleotide chain, in contrast to exonucleases, which cleave phosphodiester bonds at the end of a polynucleotide chain. Typically, a restriction site will be a palindromic sequence four to six nucleotides long. Most...
enzyme that cuts the DNA molecule that "receives" the exchanged DNA. In meiosis
Meiosis
Meiosis is a special type of cell division necessary for sexual reproduction. The cells produced by meiosis are gametes or spores. The animals' gametes are called sperm and egg cells....
the enzyme is SPO11, which is related to DNA topoisomerase
Topoisomerase
Topoisomerases are enzymes that regulate the overwinding or underwinding of DNA. The winding problem of DNA arises due to the intertwined nature of its double helical structure. For example, during DNA replication, DNA becomes overwound ahead of a replication fork...
s. These enzymes change DNA by transiently breaking one or both strands, passing the unbroken DNA strand or strands through the break and repairing the break. The broken ends of the DNA are covalently linked to the enzyme. SPO11 is similarly attached to the DNA when it forms double-strand breaks during meiosis.