title: Centromeric chromatin and its dynamics in plants.
abstract: Centromeres are chromatin structures that are required for proper separation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. The centromere is composed of centromeric DNA, often enriched in satellite repeats, and kinetochore complex proteins. To date, over 100 kinetochore components have been identified in various eukaryotes. Kinetochore assembly begins with incorporation of centromeric histone H3 variant CENH3 into centromeric nucleosomes. Protein components of the kinetochore are either present at centromeres throughout the cell cycle or localize to centromeres transiently, prior to attachment of microtubules to each kinetochore in prometaphase of mitotic cells. This is the case for the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) proteins in animal cells. The SAC complex ensures equal separation of chromosomes between daughter nuclei by preventing anaphase onset before metaphase is complete, i.e. the sister kinetochores of all chromosomes are attached to spindle fibers from opposite poles. In this review, we focus on the organization of centromeric DNA and the kinetochore assembly in plants. We summarize recent advances regarding loading of CENH3 into the centromere, and the subcellular localization and protein-protein interactions of Arabidopsis thaliana proteins involved in kinetochore assembly and function. We describe the transcriptional activity of corresponding genes based on in silico analysis of their promoters and cell cycle-dependent expression. Additionally, barley homologs of all selected A. thaliana proteins have been identified in silico, and their sequences and domain structures are presented.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben, Corrensstraße 3, D-06466, Stadt Seeland, Germany.
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lermontova
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben, Corrensstraße 3, D-06466, Stadt Seeland, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandmann
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben, Corrensstraße 3, D-06466, Stadt Seeland, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mascher
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS-UPR 2357, associée à l'Université de Strasbourg, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Catherine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Schmit
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS-UPR 2357, associée à l'Université de Strasbourg, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Edith
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Chabouté
mesh_terms: D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D018626:Retroelements
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018626:Retroelements
keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; centromere; kinetochore; plant; protein network; transcriptional regulation