Mouse MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 is needed to start and extend meiotic DNA end resection Journal Article


Authors: Kim, S.; Yamada, S.; Li, T.; Canasto-Chibuque, C.; Kim, J. H.; Marcet-Ortega, M.; Xu, J.; Eng, D. Y.; Feeney, L.; Petrini, J. H. J.; Keeney, S.
Article Title: Mouse MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 is needed to start and extend meiotic DNA end resection
Abstract: Nucleolytic resection of DNA ends is critical for homologous recombination, but its mechanism is not fully understood, particularly in mammalian meiosis. Here we examine roles of the conserved MRN complex (MRE11, RAD50, and NBS1) through genome-wide analysis of meiotic resection during spermatogenesis in mice with various MRN mutations, including several that cause chromosomal instability in humans. Meiotic DSBs form at elevated levels but remain unresected if Mre11 is conditionally deleted, thus MRN is required for both resection initiation and regulation of DSB numbers. Resection lengths are reduced to varying degrees in MRN hypomorphs or if MRE11 nuclease activity is attenuated in a conditional nuclease-dead Mre11 model. These findings unexpectedly establish that MRN is needed for longer-range extension of resection beyond that carried out by the orthologous proteins in budding yeast meiosis. Finally, resection defects are additively worsened by combining MRN and Exo1 mutations, and mice that are unable to initiate resection or have greatly curtailed resection lengths experience catastrophic spermatogenic failure. Our results elucidate MRN roles in meiotic DSB end processing and establish the importance of resection for mammalian meiosis. © The Author(s) 2025.
Keywords: controlled study; mutation; nonhuman; protein function; animal cell; chromosome; mouse; spermatocyte; rad50 protein; homologous recombination; nibrin; dna; mammal; chromosomal instability; nuclease; genome; rodent; yeast; genomic dna; lethality; meiotic recombination; embryo death; spermatogonium; male; article; nuclease s1; double strand break repair protein mre11; spermatogenic failure
Journal Title: Nature Communications
Volume: 16
ISSN: 2041-1723
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2025-04-16
Start Page: 3613
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57928-x
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC12003770
PUBMED: 40240347
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Scott N Keeney
    138 Keeney
  2. Jun Hyun Kim
    13 Kim
  3. John Petrini
    94 Petrini
  4. Shintaro   Yamada
    10 Yamada
  5. Yeelam Diana Eng
    2 Eng
  6. Jiaqi Xu
    4 Xu
  7. Marina Marcet
    2 Marcet
  8. Tao Li
    3 Li
  9. Laura Elizabeth Feeney
    2 Feeney
  10. Soonjoung Kim
    3 Kim