Rye terminal neocentromeres: characterisation of the underlying DNA and chromatin structure

We have studied rye plants with neocentromeres on the terminal regions of the chromosomes. These neocentromeres only appear in meiosis, they are active together with the normal centromere and move the chromosomal arms polewards from prometaphase to anaphase at both the first and second meiotic divisions. All chromosomes of the normal set may show neocentric activity, but chromosomal arms with terminal heterochromatic blocks, as assessed by C-banding, are significantly more susceptible than those that do not have them. At least three repetitive sequences underlie the neocentromeres: pSc34, pSc74 and pSc200. These sequences are not detectable in B chromosomes, which never showed neocentric activity. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation with these sequences used as probes revealed elongated chromatin extensions on the neocentromeres that have not been observed using other staining techniques. These extensions were never observed in control plants. They suggest a modified chromatin structure, which might be responsible for the interaction with proteins involved in chromosomal movement on the spindle.