Recurrent loss of crossover interference punctuates the recombination landscape across yeast species

Meiotic recombination is essential for the accurate chromosome segregation and the generation of genetic diversity through crossover and gene conversion events. Although this process has been studied extensively in a few selected model species, understanding how its properties vary across species remains limited. In this context, we first characterized the meiotic recombination landscape and properties of the Kluyveromyces lactis budding yeast. We then conducted a comprehensive analysis of 28,897 recombination events spanning 567 meioses in five budding yeast species including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces paradoxus, Lachancea kluyveri, Lachancea waltii and K. lactis. We observed variations in the recombination landscapes and properties across these species. The Saccharomyces yeasts displayed higher recombination rates compared to the non-Saccharomyces yeasts. In addition, bona fide crossover interference and associated crossover homeostasis were found in the Saccharomyces species only. The evolutionarily conserved ZMM pathway, essential for generating interference-dependent crossovers, has undergone multiple losses throughout evolution, suggesting variations in the regulation of crossover formation. Finally, recombination hotspots, although highly conserved within the Saccharomyces yeasts are not conserved beyond the Saccharomyces genus. Overall, these results highlight great variability and evolution in the recombination landscape between species.