The successful delivery of genetic material to gametes requires tightly regulated interactions between the parental chromosomes. Central to this regulation is a conserved chromosomal interface called the synaptonemal complex (SC), which brings the parental chromosomes in close proximity along their length. While many of its components are known, the interfaces that mediate the assembly of the SC remain a mystery. Here, we survey findings from different model systems while focusing on insight gained in the nematode C. elegans. We synthesize our current understanding of the structure, dynamics, and biophysical properties of the SC and propose mechanisms for SC assembly.
Copyright: © 2023 Gordon, Rog. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.