title: Neocentromeres: a place for everything and everything in its place.
abstract: Centromeres are essential for chromosome inheritance and genome stability. Centromeric proteins, including the centromeric histone centromere protein A (CENP-A), define the site of centromeric chromatin and kinetochore assembly. In many organisms, centromeres are located in or near regions of repetitive DNA. However, some atypical centromeres spontaneously form on unique sequences. These neocentromeres, or new centromeres, were first identified in humans, but have since been described in other organisms. Neocentromeres are functionally and structurally similar to endogenous centromeres, but lack the added complication of underlying repetitive sequences. Here, we discuss recent studies in chicken and fungal systems where genomic engineering can promote neocentromere formation. These studies reveal key genomic and epigenetic factors that support de novo centromere formation in eukaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, Duke University, DUMC 3382, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Division of Human Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: kristin.scott@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Kristin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Division of Human Genetics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: beth.sullivan@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D004261:DNA Replication; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin
keywords: CENP-A; gene conversion; heterochromatin; histone; replication; transcription