Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...
Chromosome Structure02:40

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multifunctional poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) coatings with intermediate water on titanium implants enhance osseointegration via accelerated bone maturation.

Biomaterials advances·2026
Same author

A time-resolved atlas of histone modifications during mitotic entry.

Molecular cell·2026
Same author

Three new tricholomatoid dark blue <i>Entoloma</i> spp. from temperate forests in Japan, with the redescription of <i>E. cyanonigrum</i>.

Mycoscience·2026
Same author

HSP90 inhibition disrupts telomere maintenance and promotes chromosomal instability (CIN) in cancer cells.

Research square·2026
Same author

A genome-wide RNAi screen for novel CIN genes using human artificial chromosome.

PNAS nexus·2025
Same author

Sustainable integrative cell biology: CENP-C is guilty by association.

Chromosoma·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Capturing Chromosome Conformation Across Length Scales
10:15

Capturing Chromosome Conformation Across Length Scales

Published on: January 20, 2023

HACking the centromere chromatin code: insights from human artificial chromosomes.

Jan H Bergmann1, Nuno M C Martins, Vladimir Larionov

  • 1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA. jbergmann@cshl.edu

Chromosome Research : an International Journal on the Molecular, Supramolecular and Evolutionary Aspects of Chromosome Biology
|July 25, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Centromere identity relies on specific chromatin states and histone modifications. This review highlights how centrochromatin engineering, using human artificial chromosomes (HACs), reveals insights into kinetochore formation and centromere maintenance.

More Related Videos

Hi-C: A Method to Study the Three-dimensional Architecture of Genomes.
22:27

Hi-C: A Method to Study the Three-dimensional Architecture of Genomes.

Published on: May 6, 2010

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C
09:32

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C

Published on: October 14, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Capturing Chromosome Conformation Across Length Scales
10:15

Capturing Chromosome Conformation Across Length Scales

Published on: January 20, 2023

Hi-C: A Method to Study the Three-dimensional Architecture of Genomes.
22:27

Hi-C: A Method to Study the Three-dimensional Architecture of Genomes.

Published on: May 6, 2010

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C
09:32

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C

Published on: October 14, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Chromatin Biology

Background:

  • The centromere is a specialized chromosomal region essential for kinetochore assembly and accurate chromosome segregation.
  • CENP-A nucleosomes define the centromere's unique chromatin landscape, known as centrochromatin.
  • Centrochromatin's epigenetic state is crucial for regulating kinetochore formation and centromere function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of how chromatin influences mammalian kinetochore formation.
  • To emphasize the role of Human Artificial Chromosome (HAC) biology and synthetic HACs in studying centrochromatin.
  • To discuss the implications of chromatin state and histone modifications in de novo centromere formation and maintenance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent research findings on centromere and kinetochore biology.
  • Emphasis on data derived from Human Artificial Chromosome (HAC) studies.
  • Analysis of targeted engineering of centrochromatin using synthetic HACs.

Main Results:

  • Recent work elucidates the complex interplay between centrochromatin state, CENP-A assembly, and centromere function.
  • Engineering centrochromatin via synthetic HACs provides novel insights into epigenetic regulation.
  • A precise balance of histone modifications and chromatin state is critical for centromere establishment and identity.

Conclusions:

  • Chromatin structure and epigenetic modifications are fundamental regulators of kinetochore assembly in mammals.
  • Synthetic HACs offer powerful tools for dissecting the mechanisms of centromere formation and maintenance.
  • Maintaining centromere identity during cell division depends on a finely tuned chromatin environment.