06 January 2017 | 355 (6320): Science reports groundbreaking research led by COSHP's G. Valentin Börner.

Titled "Control of Meiotic Pairing and Recombination by Chromosomally Tethered 26S Proteasome," the study is devoted to the mechanism of chromosome juxtaposition and segregation in meiosis. The report shows that the proteasome, the main cellular protease in all eukaryotes, controls three key processes during meiosis via its proteolytic activity: 1) juxtaposition of homologous chromosomes; 2) crossing-over; and 3) synaptonemal complex assembly. It is the first observation showing that the proteasome is specifically recruited to chromosomes as part of a cellular differentiation program. As such, Dr. Börner's findings provide an integrated model how targeted protein degradation controls large-scale chromosome juxtaposition, with important effects on meiotic crossing over and ultimately chromosome segregation.

Dr. Börner discussed the implications of the study with CSU's Media Room. He is affiliated with the Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease and the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science at Cleveland State University; the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University; and the Department of Cancer Biology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. The team also includes scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Washington State University.

Science is the leading scientific journal in the world, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).