Which phase of meiosis involves the formation of the synaptonemal complex?
Prophase of meiosis I is extended into five substages to accomplish pairing, synapsis, and recombination unique to germ cells. Leptotene initiates with chromosome condensation into thin threads and formation of axial elements along each chromatid containing cohesin Rec8 and HORMA proteins. Zygotene marks onset of homologous pairing facilitated by telomere bouquet clustering at nuclear envelope driven by cytoskeletal forces and homology search mediated by DMC1 recombinase. Synaptonemal complex assembly begins in zygotene: lateral elements SYCP2 and SYCP3 polymerize along axes, transverse filament protein SYCP1 dimerizes bridging homologs, central element SYCE1-3 completes tripartite zipper extending along entire chromosome length. This structure stabilizes homolog junction and provides platform for recombination nodules containing SPO11-induced double-strand breaks processed into crossovers. By end of zygotene, most homologs fully synapsed, failure causing pachytene checkpoint arrest and apoptosis of defective spermatocytes or oocytes leading to infertility phenotypes in humans. This circuitry is highly conserved across eukaryotes, integrating growth factor signals, DNA damage surveillance, and developmental cues, and its disruption frequently underlies oncogenesis, providing targets for checkpoint inhibitors and cancer therapeutics.
Ref: Page & Hawley, Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2004, Meiotic Synapsis. Alberts 7th ed., Chapter 21, Meiosis I Prophase.