FIGURE 4.

Synaptonemal complex defects are observed upon knockdown of 19S proteasome subunits. Representative images of germ lines visualized with anti-SYP-1 to mark the synaptonemal complex (green), anti-XND-1 (purple), and DAPI to mark DNA (blue). (A) Control, empty vector, shows the expected formation of a few SC polycomplexes (PCs) in the TZ. (B) No phenotype: full polymerization of SYP-1 throughout pachytene stage and correct timing of polarization to the short arm of the chromosome at diplotene comparable to control. (C) Mild-phenotype: extended region of PCs reaching early pachytene, with an abundant number of nuclei with fully polymerized SC in mid-pachytene. Premature polarization is also observed. (D) Severe phenotype: extended region of PCs into mid-pachytene, with almost all nuclei having at least one PC and no polymerization of SYP-1. Premature polarization of SYP-1 was present at late pachytene. Whole gonad scale bar, 50 m. Zoom in boxes correspond to: (1) Transition Zone, (2) Early-Mid Pachytene, (3) Late Pachytene. Scale bar, 10 m.