Robust designation of meiotic crossover sites by CDK-2 through phosphorylation of the MutSγ complex
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Successful chromosome segregation during meiosis relies on crossover recombination between homologous chromosomes. Meiotic recombination initiates with the formation of numerous DNA double-strand breaks, but only a few are ultimately selected to become crossovers. How this process is regulated to ensure that each homolog pair designates at least one crossover remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans kinase CDK-2 partners with cyclin-like protein COSA-1 and promotes crossover designation through phosphorylation and activation of the MutSγ complex. Our data support a model in which scaffold-like properties of the MSH-5 C-terminal tail and its CDK-2–mediated phosphorylation combine to promote full recruitment and activity of crossover–promoting complexes, thereby generating positive feedback that contributes to the robustness of crossover designation.