Centromere targeting of alien CENH3s in Arabidopsis and tobacco cells.

The centromere is a region utilized for spindle attachment on a eukaryotic chromosome and essential for accurate chromatid segregation. In most eukaryotes, centromeres have specific DNA sequences and are capable of assembling specific proteins to form a complex called the kinetochore. Among these proteins, centromeric histone H3 (CENH3) is one of the most fundamental, since CENH3s have been found in all investigated functional centromeres and recruits other centromeric proteins.

Dissection of rye B chromosomes, and nondisjunction properties of the dissected segments in a common wheat background.

The rye B chromosome is a supernumerary chromosome that increases in number in its host by directed postmeiotic drive. Two types of rye B chromosomes that had been introduced into common wheat were dissected into separate segments by the gametocidal system to produce a number of rearranged B chromosomes, such as telosomes, terminal deletions and translocations with wheat chromosomes. A total of 13 dissected B chromosomes were isolated in common wheat, and were investigated for their nondisjunction properties.