Centromere DNA Dynamics: Latent Centromeres and Neocentromere Formation

The centromere is a vital chromosomal structure that provides all living cells with the ability to faithfully partition their genetic material during mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. It functions by holding newly replicated sister chromatids together, allowing the attachment of spindle microtubul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of human genetics 1997-12, Vol.61 (6), p.1225-1233
Main Author: Choo, K.H. Andy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Autoantigens
Biological and medical sciences
Centromere - metabolism
Centromere - ultrastructure
Centromere Protein A
Centromere(s)
Chromatin - genetics
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - physiology
Chromosome Mapping
Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast
Chromosomes, Fungal - genetics
Chromosomes, Fungal - ultrastructure
Chromosomes, Human - genetics
Chromosomes, Human - ultrastructure
Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids
DNA - genetics
DNA - metabolism
DNA dynamics
DNA, Fungal - genetics
DNA, Fungal - metabolism
DNA, Satellite - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungal Proteins - physiology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Human
Humans
Neocentromere formation
Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics
Tropical medicine
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Summary:The centromere is a vital chromosomal structure that provides all living cells with the ability to faithfully partition their genetic material during mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. It functions by holding newly replicated sister chromatids together, allowing the attachment of spindle microtubules, and orchestrating the ordered movement of chromosomes to the daughter cells. The centromere has also been recognized as a "marshalling station" for a host of "passenger proteins" that appear transiently on the centromere during specific stages of the cell cycle. Through the study of these and several of the known constitutive centromere proteins, diverse roles for these proteins have been defined, such as formation of centromere-specific chromatin, cohesion and release of sister chromatids, control of cell-cycle checkpoint, motor movement of chromosomes, modulation of spindle dynamics, organization of nuclear structure and intercellular bridge, and cytokinesis. This review will focus on the unusual properties of the DNA that underlies centromere function and will discuss the implications of recent studies on neocentromeres, in light of our new understanding of the dynamic nature of the centromere DNA.
ISSN:0002-9297
1537-6605
DOI:10.1086/301657