Meiotic double-stranded break formation protein 1 (MEI1)

Meiotic double-stranded break formation protein 1 (MEI1) is a meiosis-specific protein that is essential for the formation of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during meiotic prophase in sexually reproducing organisms. These DSBs are required to initiate homologous recombination, which ensures proper chromosome synapsis and segregation. In both mammals and plants, loss-of-function mutations in MEI1 lead to meiotic arrest due to a failure in DSB formation, resulting in infertility. MEI1 functions as an accessory factor in the protein complex that regulates the catalytic activity of SPO11, the topoisomerase-like enzyme responsible for catalyzing DSBs. MEI1 interacts with other meiotic proteins, including REC114, MEI4, and IHO1, forming a regulatory network that coordinates DSB formation timing and distribution. While not a therapeutic target or classical receptor, MEI1 is critical for fertility and has been implicated in certain genetic infertility syndromes.

Other names

Meiosis inhibitor protein 1MGC40042SPATA38Meiosis defective protein 1Spermatogenesis associated 38HYDM3