The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres.
Science
; 374(6569): eabi7489, 2021 Nov 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34762468
ABSTRACT
Centromeres attach chromosomes to spindle microtubules during cell division and, despite this conserved role, show paradoxically rapid evolution and are typified by complex repeats. We used long-read sequencing to generate the Col-CEN Arabidopsis thaliana genome assembly that resolves all five centromeres. The centromeres consist of megabase-scale tandemly repeated satellite arrays, which support CENTROMERE SPECIFIC HISTONE H3 (CENH3) occupancy and are densely DNA methylated, with satellite variants private to each chromosome. CENH3 preferentially occupies satellites that show the least amount of divergence and occur in higher-order repeats. The centromeres are invaded by ATHILA retrotransposons, which disrupt genetic and epigenetic organization. Centromeric crossover recombination is suppressed, yet low levels of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks occur that are regulated by DNA methylation. We propose that Arabidopsis centromeres are evolving through cycles of satellite homogenization and retrotransposon-driven diversification.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Centromere
/
Arabidopsis
/
Chromosomes, Plant
/
Epigenesis, Genetic
Language:
En
Journal:
Science
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Reino Unido
Publication country:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA