Question

What mediates the response to recombination defects?

Answer 1

Recombination defects:

1. The response to recombination defects is mediated by a recombination checkpoint system that is analogous to the checkpoint systems controlling mitotic cell-cycle progression.
2. In order to respond to double-strand breaks or other irregularities in DNA structure, this system depends on elements of the same DNA damage response mechanism that inhibit the mitotic cell cycle.
3. Therefore, it is likely that the presence of DNA breaks or single-stranded areas, which are typical intermediates in the recombination process, causes the meiotic prophase arrest that occurs from recombination errors.
4. It protects cells from chromosomal aberrations such as those seen in cancer.