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Structural maturation of SYCP1-mediated meiotic chromosome synapsis by SYCE3

Abstract

In meiosis, a supramolecular protein structure, the synaptonemal complex (SC), assembles between homologous chromosomes to facilitate their recombination. Mammalian SC formation is thought to involve hierarchical zipper-like assembly of an SYCP1 protein lattice that recruits stabilizing central element (CE) proteins as it extends. Here we combine biochemical approaches with separation-of-function mutagenesis in mice to show that, rather than stabilizing the SYCP1 lattice, the CE protein SYCE3 actively remodels this structure during synapsis. We find that SYCP1 tetramers undergo conformational change into 2:1 heterotrimers on SYCE3 binding, removing their assembly interfaces and disrupting the SYCP1 lattice. SYCE3 then establishes a new lattice by its self-assembly mimicking the role of the disrupted interface in tethering together SYCP1 dimers. SYCE3 also interacts with CE complexes SYCE1–SIX6OS1 and SYCE2–TEX12, providing a mechanism for their recruitment. Thus, SYCE3 remodels the SYCP1 lattice into a CE-binding integrated SYCP1–SYCE3 lattice to achieve long-range synapsis by a mature SC.

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Fig. 1: SYCP1 interacts with central element protein SYCE3.
Fig. 2: SYCP1’s tetramer interface is disrupted on 2:1 complex formation with SYCE3.
Fig. 3: SYCP1–SYCE3 forms an integrated lattice through SYCE3 self-assembly.
Fig. 4: SYCE3 self-assembly is required for SC assembly and meiotic progression in vivo.
Fig. 5: SYCP1 tetramer lattices are disrupted by SYCE3 WY in vivo.
Fig. 6: SYCE3 interacts with SYCE1–SIX6OS1 and SYCE2–TEX12 central element complexes.
Fig. 7: Model for SC maturation through SYCP1 lattice remodeling and integration by SYCE3.

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Data availability

This study used the publicly available dataset PDB 6H86. Source data are provided with this paper.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Diamond Light Source and the staff of beamline B21 (proposals sm14435, sm15580, sm15897 and sm15836). We thank H. Waller for assistance with CD data collection, and V. A. Jatikusumo and M. Ratcliff for work in the early stages of this project. We thank A. Wheeler, M. Pearson and L. Murphy in the MRC HGU advanced imaging resource for help and guidance with imaging and image analysis, the Edinburgh Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium for super-resolution imaging and the University of Edinburgh Bioresearch and Veterinary Services for mouse husbandry. We thank W. Bickmore, J. Caceres, C. Vara and A. Marston for critically reviewing the manuscript. This study was supported by MRC University Unit grant MC_UU_00007/6 (I.R.A. and J.H.C.) and a Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship (grant number 219413/Z/19/Z) (O.R.D.).

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

J.M.D., O.M.D. and L.J.S. performed biochemical and biophysical experiments. J.H.C. performed mouse phenotyping, developed imaging analysis pipelines and analyzed imaging. P.S.D. performed CRISPR–Cas9 injections. J.L. performed mouse genotyping. O.R.D. and I.R.A. analyzed data, designed experiments and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ian R. Adams or Owen R. Davies.

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Nature Structural & Molecular Biology thanks Abrahan Hernandez-Hernandez and John Weir for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Peer reviewer reports are available. Primary Handling editor: Carolina Perdigoto, in collaboration with the Nature Structural & Molecular Biology team.

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Extended data

Extended Data Fig. 1 SYCP1 forms a high-affinity complex with SYCE3.

(a) Recombinant co-expression and co-purification of SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 through amylose and anion exchange chromatography, followed by TEV cleavage to remove N-terminal expression tags, with subsequent anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. (b) SDS-PAGE of elution fractions corresponding to the size-exclusion chromatography analysis shown in Fig. 1f. (c) Isothermal calorimetry (ITC) of SYCE3 titrated into SYCP1αNcore, demonstrating an apparent affinity of 170 ± 30 nM (mean ± SEM, n = 3 biologically independent replicates), corresponding to Fig. 1h. The injections (top), fit (middle) and residuals (bottom) are shown for the three biological replicates, with individually determined apparent affinities of 230 nM, 120 nM and 160 nM (the binding curve of the 160 nM replicate is shown in Fig. 1h). Error bars correspond to the estimated error of each integrated isotherm based on baseline uncertainty (calculated in NITPIC).

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 2 Structure of the SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 complex.

(a) SEC-MALS analysis of MBP-SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 (blue), MBP-SYCP1αNcore-MBP-SYCE3 (red), SYCP1αNcore-MBP-SYCE3 (yellow), revealing 2:1 complexes of 134 kDa, 163 kDa and 86 kDa, respectively (theoretical – 134 kDa, 175 kDa and 94 kDa). (b) SEC-MALS analysis of SYCP1 αCore-ΔNtip in isolation and in complex with SYCE3, demonstrating a 302 kDa tetramer and 195 kDa 2:1 complex, respectively (theoretical – 320 kDa and 171 kDa). (c) Far UV CD spectra and (d) CD thermal denaturation of SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 (purple) and SYCP1αNcore (blue). (c) Secondary structure composition was estimated through deconvolution of spectra with data fitted at normalised rms deviation values of 0.006 and 0.001, respectively. (d) Thermal denaturation recorded for SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 and SYCP1αNcore as % unfolded based on the helical signal at 222 nm; melting temperatures were estimated at 38 °C and 37 °C, respectively. (e–g) SEC-SAXS analysis. (e) Scattering intensity plots, (f) Guinier analysis to determine the radius of gyration (Rg) with linear fits shown in black (Q.Rg values were < 1.3) and (g) Guinier analysis to determine the radius of gyration of the cross-section (Rc) (Q.Rc values were < 1.3) for SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 and SYCP1αNcore. Corresponding P(r) distributions and ab initio models are shown in Fig. 2b. (h) SYCE3-binding analysis through co-expression with MBP-SYCP1 or free MBP and co-purification by amylose, ion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography using SYCP1αNcore and SYCE3 truncations.

Extended Data Fig. 3 SYCP1 binds to the SYCE3 WY mutant.

(a) Schematic of the SYCE3 chain, dimeric structure and self-assembly into tetramers and higher-order structures. SYCE3 consists of two α-helices, α1 (blue) and α2 (red), which are linked together by the P53 loop. In the SYCE3 dimer, the P53 loop adopts a closed conformation. This structure self-assembles through one of its P53 loops opening, creating a tetramer consisting of two linear chains and two helix-loop-helix chains. SYCE3 tetramer formation is blocked by the PPP-loop mutation which supports the dimeric closed loop conformation, but is incompatible with the assembled open loop conformation. Similarly, SYCE3 constitutively assembles upon P53Q mutation, which is incompatible with the closed loop conformation. SYCE3 tetramers undergo higher-order assembly through lateral interaction of their W41 Y44 sites. The resultant higher-order structures are held together by the combined actions of the end-on interface of the tetramer and the lateral interfaces mediated by W41 and Y44. Higher-order assembly through lateral interactions is blocked by the W41E Y44E (WY) mutation. (b) ITC analysis of SYCE3 WY titrated into SYCP1αNcore, demonstrating an apparent affinity of 16 ± 3 nM (mean ± SEM, n = 3 biologically independent replicates), corresponding to Fig. 2g. The injections (top), fit (middle) and residuals (bottom) are shown for the three biological replicates, with individually determined apparent affinities of 16 nM, 10 nM and 22 nM (the binding curve of the 16 nM replicate is shown in Fig. 2g). (c) ITC of SYCE3 PPP-loop titrated into SYCP1αNcore, in which no interaction was not observed and the binding affinity was not determined (n.d.). (b, c) Error bars correspond to the estimated error of each integrated isotherm based on baseline uncertainty (calculated in NITPIC).

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 4 Structure of the SYCP1αN-SYCE3 complex.

(a) SDS-PAGE of size-exclusion chromatography elution fractions of 127 μM SYCP1αN upon incubation with SYCE3 at stoichiometric ratios (per molecule) of 1:0.5, 1:5 and 1:10; free SYCP1αN and SYCE3 are shown for comparison. (b) SEC-MALS analysis (using a Superose 6 increase 10/300 GL column) of MBP-SYCP1αN-His-SYCE3 revealing 2:1 and 4:2 species of 164 kDa and 335 kDa, respectively (theoretical – 160 kDa and 319 kDa). (c,d) SEC-SAXS analysis. (c) Scattering intensity plots and (d) Guinier analysis to determine the radius of gyration (Rg) with linear fits shown in black (Q.Rg values were < 1.3) for SYCP1αN-SYCE3 2:1 and 4:2 complexes. Corresponding P(r) distributions and ab initio models are shown in Fig. 3c, d.

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 5 SYCP1-SYCE3 integrated lattice formation through SYCE3 self-assembly.

(a) Size-exclusion chromatography of (a, b) 95 μM SYCP1αN-SYCE3 and (c) 95 μM SYCP1αNcore-SYCE3 upon incubation with a 10-fold stoichiometric excess (per molecule) of SYCE3 wild-type or WY, corresponding to Fig. 4f–h. (a, c) UV absorbance (280 nm) chromatograms normalised to the same maximum peak height shown in Fig. 3f, g with additional chromatograms for free SYCE3 wild-type and WY.

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 6 Syce3 mutant allele sequences and meiotic phenotypes.

(a) Syce3 nucleotide and predicted protein sequences of mice used in this study. Mouse IDs are shown on the left and the genotype group on the right. Animal 5959 in the Syce3WY/WY group did not incorporate the silent C:A mutation in PAM1 and was mosaic/heterozygous for the silent G:C mutation in PAM2. For the Syce3Δ/Δ group the number of nucleotides deleted is indicated in the allele name. The PAM sequences are highlighted with blue boxes, the W41 and Y44 sequences with orange boxes. (b) Chromatograms showing examples of sequencing the Syce3 locus from mice with the indicated genotypes and IDs. A black arrow indicates nucleotides deleted at this position. Mice that lacked potential mosaicism/heterogeneity at the W41/Y44 codons were used in this study. (c) Percentage of SYCP3-positive spermatocytes at the indicated stage of meiosis I in Syce3 chromosome spreads based on SYCP3 and SYCP1 immunostaining (Fig. 4f). Mean percentages for each genotype are indicated by the bars, percentages from individual animals are indicated by filled circles. Asterisks indicate a significant difference (p < 0.05, Student’s t-test, n = 3) relative to Syce3PAM/PAM controls.

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 7 Quantitative analysis of SYCP1 foci in Syce3 spermatocytes.

(a) SIM images of pachytene Syce3PAM/PAM meiotic chromosome spreads immunostained for SYCP3 (magenta) and SYCP1 (green). Scale bars, 10 µm for low magnification images, 1 µm for enlarged regions. Patches where SYCP1 extends linearly along one axis are indicated with arrows. The spread shown is the same as in Fig. 5a (b) SYCP1 foci-SYCE3 axis mask distances. Distances from the centroid of each SYCP1 focus to the nearest point on the SYCP3 axis mask are shown alongside distances from shuffled datasets obtained by assigning all SYCP1 foci in each nucleus to a random nuclear location for twenty iterations. The red dotted horizontal line represents the 35 nm threshold distinguishing axial and non-axial foci. Crossbars represent quartiles; *, p < 0.01 (Mann-Whitney U test, paired test used to compare observed with shuffled datasets, nuclei medians are 16, 603, 91 and 494 nm, n = 25, 26 nuclei); 3 animals analysed for each Syce3 genotype. (c) Total SYCP1 signal in each axial SYCP1 focus as shown in Fig. 5d, with data segmented for individual animals. Crossbars represent quartiles; medians are 152975, 116615, 101019, 8067, 24188 and 1855 arbitrary units); mouse IDs are shown below each dataset. (d) Violin plots showing the anti-SYCP1 immunostaining signal per focus, intensity within foci and focus area for axial and non-axial SYCP1 foci in Syce3Δ/Δ and Syce3WY/WY spermatocytes. Crossbars represent quartiles. Median SYCP1 signals per focus: 60101, 123441, 9061 and 8485 arbitrary units. Median SYCP1 intensities within foci; 2205, 2525, 255, and 203 arbitrary units per px2. Median areas; 29, 48, 48 and 53 nm2. 3 animals analysed for each Syce3 genotype. (e) Non-axial SYCP1 foci frequencies in asynapsed pachytene Syce3Δ/Δ and Syce3WY/WY spermatocytes. *, p < 0.05 (Mann-Whitney U test, medians are 86 and 66 foci, n = 25, 26 nuclei); 3 animals analysed for each Syce3 genotype.

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 8 SYCE3 interacts with SYCE1-SIX6OS1 and SYCE2-TEX12 complexes.

(a) Size-exclusion chromatography of co-expressed and co-purified SYCE1core-SYCE3, with UV chromatograms of SYCE1core-SYCE3 (blue), SYCE1core (yellow) and SYCE3 (red), corresponding to Fig. 6e. (b) Size-exclusion chromatography of SYCE2-TEX12 core (green), SYCE3 (red) and an equimolar mixture of SYCE2-TEX12 core and SYCE3 (blue), shown as UV absorbance (280 nm) and SDS-PAGE of elution fractions. (c-i) MST analysis of SYCE3 titrated into 150 nM SYCE2-TEX12 core, corresponding to Fig. 6 f. (c) Full dataset in which the final two datapoints were excluded from analysis. The apparent binding affinity was determined to be 21.8 ± 2.1 μM (mean ± SEM,n = 3 biologically independent replicates). (d) Overlaid capillary scans. (e,f) Initial fluorescence for three data series (blue, yellow, green) displayed as (e) individual data series and (f) data represented as mean ± SEM (n = 3 biologically independent replicates). (g–i) Relative fluorescence for each of the three data series.

Source data

Extended Data Fig. 9 Electron microscopy analysis of SYCE2-TEX12 following incubation with a two-fold excess of SYCE3.

Full panels corresponding to Fig. 6 g. Scale bar, 200 nm.

Extended Data Fig. 10 Overlapping images used to capture chromosome spreads.

Syce3PAM/PAM images used to capture the chromosome spread shown in Fig. 5b and Extended Data Fig. 7a. Scale bar, 10 µm. Overlapping images were taken with 15% overlap and stitched using algorithms in Nikon NIS-Elements.

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Crichton, J.H., Dunce, J.M., Dunne, O.M. et al. Structural maturation of SYCP1-mediated meiotic chromosome synapsis by SYCE3. Nat Struct Mol Biol 30, 188–199 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-022-00909-1

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