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Abstract:To investigate the structural dynamics of the homology pairing of polymers, we modeled the scenario of homologous chromosome pairings during meiosis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, one of the simplest model organisms of eukaryotes. We consider a simple model consisting of pairs of homologous polymers with the same structures that are confined in a cylindrical container, which represents the local parts of chromosomes contained in an elongated nucleus of S. pombe. Brownian dynamics simulations of this model showed that the excluded volume effects among non-homological chromosomes and the transitional dynamics of nuclear shape serve to enhance the pairing of homologous chromosomes.

Homologous sets of parental chromosomes must pair during meiosis to produce recombined sets of chromosomes for their progeny. This is accompanied by nuclear oscillatory movements. This study aimed to elucidate the significance of these movements with a model, wherein external force was applied to the oscillating nucleus and via hydrodynamic interactions within the nucleus. Simulations revealed that a major force for aligning homologous chromosomes is length-dependent sorting during chromosomal torsional turning, which occur when the nucleus reverses the direction of its movement.

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