Centromeres

The centromere is essential for accurate segregation of genetic material in both meiosis and mitosis. It is the site of the primary constriction on metaphase chromosomes. Functionally, it is where proteins of the kinetochore assemble to hold sister chromatids together and to guide chromosome movement during cell division. Centromeric sequence is distinct and diverse in different organisms, yet, chromatin organization of centromeres is similar, emphasizing shared epigenetic, rather than sequence-dependent, aspects of this critical locus.

Duke Scholars

Author Beth Ann Sullivan Molecular Genetics and Microbiology