Vol. 13, Issue 1, 84-95, January 2002

Cytoplasmic Localization and Evolutionary Conservation of MEI-218, a Protein Required for Meiotic Crossing-over in Drosophila

Elizabeth A. Manheim, Janet K. Jang, Danielle Dominic, and Kim S. McKim

Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8020

During Drosophila oogenesis, the oocyte is formed within a 16-cell cyst immediately after four incomplete cell divisions. One of the primary events in oocyte development is meiotic recombination. Here, we report the intracellular localization of the MEI-218 protein that is specifically required for meiotic crossing-over. To understand the role of mei-218 in meiosis and to study the regulation of genes required for meiotic recombination, we characterized the expression pattern of its RNA and protein. Furthermore, we cloned and sequenced mei-218 from two other Drosophila species. The mei-218 RNA and protein have a similar expression pattern, appearing first in early meiotic prophase and then rapidly disappearing as prophase is completed. This pattern corresponds to a specific appearance of the mei-218 gene product in the region of the ovary where meiotic prophase occurs. Although mei-218 is required for 95% of all crossovers, the protein is found exclusively in the cytoplasm. Based on these results, we suggest that mei-218 does not have a direct role in recombination but rather regulates other factors required for the production of crossovers. We propose that mei-218 is a molecular link between oocyte differentiation and meiosis.