Sexually dimorphic control of crossover distribution by the conserved ATPase PCH-2 in C. elegans.

Meiotic crossover recombination is essential for accurate chromosome segregation and the creation of new allele combinations that drive natural selection during evolution. Thus, the number and distribution of crossovers is exquisitely controlled. We have shown that the pachytene checkpoint component and conserved AAA-ATPase PCH-2 controls crossover number and distribution during oogenesis in C. elegans . To test if PCH-2 has similar effects during spermatogenesis, we monitored recombination across a single chromosome in control and pch-2 mutant males. Our results demonstrate that PCH-2 's effect on crossover distribution during spermatogenesis is different than we observed in oogenesis, exhibiting sexual dimorphism.