Description
Meiotic recombination is initiated by the Spo11 endonuclease, which directs DNA double strand breaks at discrete regions in the genome coined hotspots. Here we report the profiles and dynamics of histone modifications at the cores of mouse recombination hotspots in early meiotic prophase. To define the spectrum of possible regulators of histone methylation and acetylation at all stages of meiosis I, expression analyses of histone acetylases/deacetylases (HATs/HDACs) and and HMTs/HDMTs genes when comparing those expressed in spermatogonia, pre-leptotene and leptotene/zygotene versus pachytene meiotic stages.