Reduced Telomerase Interaction with Telomeres Alters Meiotic Chromosome Motion and Gamete Viability

We report a role for telomerase, beyond its known function of telomeric DNA end extension, in maintaining normal chromosome dynamics during meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When telomerase at telomeres was reduced by various genetic means, increased frequencies of crossover and noncrossover recombination events occurred. To investigate the mechanism of this increased meiotic recombination, we examined the kinetics of meiosis events, and tracked the movement of chromosomes in live cells during meiotic prophase. Cytoskeletal forces acting on telomeres during meiosis have been shown to promote active chromosome motion needed to pair homologous chromosomes. Here we show that changes in telomerase interaction with telomeres using a tlc1-11 mutant result in altered meiotic motion. Specifically, reduction in telomerase at telomeres leads to a decreased frequency of high velocity chromosome pulls. In the tlc1-11 mutant, we see earlier synapsis and increased genome-wide recombination for the majority of the cells and lower gamete viability. Notably, homologous pairing is not delayed unlike other telomere binding mutants. Although synapsis initiates earlier, the overall timing of synapsis remains the same, except for a subset of cells that do not exit meiosis I. Together, these results suggest that the strong pulling component of the active chromosome motion promotes homolog pairing fidelity, likely by pulling apart improperly associated regions. Our combined observations are consistent with a model in which telomerase-mediated telomeric anchoring to the nuclear envelope helps engage and properly transmit cytoskeletal forces to chromosomes. Thus, telomerase contributes to efficient chromosome movements leading to normal gamete viability.