Triplo-X hermaphrodite of Caenorhabditis elegans: pachytene karyotype analysis, synaptonemal complexes, and pairing mechanisms

Abstract

Pairing of the three X chromosomes in the triplo-X strain of Caenorhabditis elegans occurs at pachytene in a two-by-two fashion such that one bivalent and one univalent are formed. The XX bivalent pairs synchronously with the autosomes and the univalent X remains in a similar chromatic state as the rest of the chromosomal complement. Normal tripartite synaptonemal complexes (SC) are formed between all bivalents. The univalent X lacks a SC and an axial core is not observed. The condensation of the univalent X in the triplo-X is different than in the male where the univalent X is heterochromatic. This real difference in condensation states of the chromatin may explain the fact that the univalent X is maintained in the male line yet it is easily lost in the triplo-X strain.