Transgenerational chromosome repair in the asexual bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga

Homologous recombination is an essential DNA repair mechanism that also promotes chromosome pairing and ensures allele segregation during meiosis in sexual organisms. Here, we explore the dual function of homologous recombination in the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga , an asexual species known for its remarkable resilience to extreme genotoxic stresses. Genomic analyses reveal that A. vaga uses meiotic recombination to promote spontaneous crossovers and gene conversion during oogenesis and to repair the genome in response to DNA damage. The data also support a model of transgenerational DNA repair, termed break-induced homologous extension repair (BIHER), in which broken chromosomes are progressively restored over multiple generations. Our findings suggest that meiotic BIHER, coupled with the holocentric structure of chromosomes, may represent a key adaptation of life in extreme environments.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2026-09-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aee0891
Primary Topic
DNA Repair Mechanisms
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Transgenerational chromosome repair in the asexual bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga

Antoine Houtain, Bernard Hallet, Boris Hespeels, Julie Virgo et al.
Science Advances
DNA Repair Mechanisms
article

Transgenerational chromosome repair in the asexual bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga

Antoine Houtain, Bernard Hallet, Boris Hespeels, Julie Virgo, Karine Van Doninck, Marc Llirós, Anne‐Catherine Heuskin, Thomas Lenormand, Émilien Nicolas, Paul Simion
article en

Abstract

Homologous recombination is an essential DNA repair mechanism that also promotes chromosome pairing and ensures allele segregation during meiosis in sexual organisms. Here, we explore the dual function of homologous recombination in the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga , an asexual species known for its remarkable resilience to extreme genotoxic stresses. Genomic analyses reveal that A. vaga uses meiotic recombination to promote spontaneous crossovers and gene conversion during oogenesis and to repair the genome in response to DNA damage. The data also support a model of transgenerational DNA repair, termed break-induced homologous extension repair (BIHER), in which broken chromosomes are progressively restored over multiple generations. Our findings suggest that meiotic BIHER, coupled with the holocentric structure of chromosomes, may represent a key adaptation of life in extreme environments.

Science AdvancesVol. 12(37)
Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya (ES), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE), University of Namur (BE), Université de Montpellier (FR), Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution (FR), Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive (FR), Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier (FR), UCLouvain (BE)
Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Fonds Spéciaux de Recherche, European Research Council
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
DNA Repair Mechanisms
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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