Molecular structures and mechanisms of DNA break processing in mouse meiosis

Exonucleolytic resection is a critical step in repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) via homologous recombination, but resection mechanisms are not well understood, particularly in mammalian meiosis. Here, we use a genome-wide, nucleotide-resolution analysis to define the molecular structure of resected DSBs in mouse spermatocytes. Resection tracts averaged 1100 nucleotides on each side of a DSB, but with a broad distribution and substantial fine-scale heterogeneity at individual hotspots. Surprisingly, eliminating the nuclease activity of EXO1 only modestly decreased resection lengths, thus EXO1 is not the major 5′→3′ exonuclease in mouse meiosis. In contrast, the DSB-responsive kinase ATM proved to be a key regulator of both the initiation and extension of resection. In wild type, apparent intermolecular recombination intermediates clustered near to but offset from DSB positions, consistent with joint molecules with incompletely invaded 3′ ends. Finally, we provide evidence for PRDM9-dependent chromatin remodeling leading to increased accessibility at recombination sites. Our findings give insight into the mechanisms of DSB processing and repair in meiotic chromatin.