Centromeres Drive a Hard Bargain

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• 作者：Leah F. Rosin¹ ; ³ ; Barbara G. Mellone¹ ; ² ; ^{Barbara.mellone@uconn.edu}
• 关键词：CENP-A ; centromere drive ; centromere evolution ; centromeres ; chromosome segregation ; Drosophila ; meiosis
• 刊名：Trends in Genetics
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：February 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：33
• 期：2
• 页码：101-117
• 全文大小：2796 K
• 卷排序：33

文摘

Centromeres are essential chromosomal structures that mediate the accurate distribution of genetic material during meiotic and mitotic cell divisions. In most organisms, centromeres are epigenetically specified and propagated by nucleosomes containing the centromere-specific H3 variant, centromere protein A (CENP-A). Although centromeres perform a critical and conserved function, CENP-A and the underlying centromeric DNA are rapidly evolving. This paradox has been explained by the centromere drive hypothesis, which proposes that CENP-A is undergoing an evolutionary tug-of-war with selfish centromeric DNA. Here, we review our current understanding of CENP-A evolution in relation to centromere drive and discuss classical and recent advances, including new evidence implicating CENP-A chaperones in this conflict.