AI Article Synopsis
- Centromeres are chromatin structures marked by the histone H3 variant CENP-A, crucial for assembling kinetochores rather than defined by specific DNA sequences.
- Recent studies, especially in vertebrates, reveal the importance of repetitive DNA sequences and various chromatin factors in the formation and activation of CENP-A chromatin for effective kinetochore assembly.
- The review highlights classic and recent research on centromeric chromatin, including the use of artificial chromosomes to better understand centromere function.
Article Abstract
Since discovery of the centromere-specific histone H3 variant CENP-A, centromeres have come to be defined as chromatin structures that establish the assembly site for the complex kinetochore machinery. In most organisms, centromere activity is defined epigenetically, rather than by specific DNA sequences. In this review, we describe selected classic work and recent progress in studies of centromeric chromatin with a focus on vertebrates. We consider possible roles for repetitive DNA sequences found at most centromeres, chromatin factors and modifications that assemble and activate CENP-A chromatin for kinetochore assembly, plus the use of artificial chromosomes and kinetochores to study centromere function.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160344 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2014.08.016 | DOI Listing |
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