title: Centromeres Drive a Hard Bargain.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; Current address: Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Leah F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rosin
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. Electronic address: Barbara.mellone@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Barbara G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Mellone
mesh_terms: D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A / Q000235:genetics*; D002843:Chromatin; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA
keywords: CENP-A; Drosophila; centromere drive; centromere evolution; centromeres; chromosome segregation; meiosis