title: Dynamic epigenetic states of maize centromeres.
abstract: The centromere is a specialized chromosomal region identified as the major constriction, upon which the kinetochore complex is formed, ensuring accurate chromosome orientation and segregation during cell division. The rapid evolution of centromere DNA sequence and the conserved centromere function are two contradictory aspects of centromere biology. Indeed, the sole presence of genetic sequence is not sufficient for centromere formation. Various dicentric chromosomes with one inactive centromere have been recognized. It has also been found that de novo centromere formation is common on fragments in which centromeric DNA sequences are lost. Epigenetic factors play important roles in centromeric chromatin assembly and maintenance. Non-disjunction of the supernumerary B chromosome centromere is independent of centromere function, but centromere pairing during early prophase of meiosis I requires an active centromere. This review discusses recent studies in maize about genetic and epigenetic elements regulating formation and maintenance of centromere chromatin, as well as centromere behavior in meiosis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China ; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yalin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China ; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Handong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China ; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fangpu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia MO, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Birchler
keywords: centromere inactivation; centromere pairing; de novo centromere; epigenetics; maize; neocentromere; non-disjunction