Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Live Imaging Characterization of Centromere Movements During Male Meiotic Prophase in Arabidopsis thaliana
Published on: October 24, 2025
Centromeres and kinetochores of Brassicaceae
Inna Lermontova1, Michael Sandmann, Dmitri Demidov
1Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany, lermonto@ipk-gatersleben.de.
Abstract:
The centromere-the primary constriction of monocentric chromosomes-is essential for correct segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. Centromeric DNA varies between different organisms in sequence composition and extension. The main components of centromeric and pericentromeric DNA of Brassicaceae species are centromeric satellite repeats. Centromeric DNA initiates assembly of the kinetochore, the large protein complex where the spindle fibers attach during nuclear division to pull sister chromatids apart. Kinetochore assembly is initiated by incorporation of the centromeric histone H3 cenH3 into centromeric nucleosomes. The spindle assembly checkpoint acts during mitosis and meiosis at centromeres and maintains genome stability by preventing chromosome segregation before all kinetochores are correctly attached to microtubules. The function of the spindle assembly checkpoint in plants is still poorly understood. Here, we review recent advances of studies on structure and functional importance of centromeric DNA of Brassicaceae, assembly and function of cenH3 in Arabidopsis thaliana and characterization of core SAC proteins of A. thaliana in comparison with non-plant homologues.
More Related Videos
05:35Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
Published on: March 3, 2016
09:33An Efficient Method for Quantitative, Single-cell Analysis of Chromatin Modification and Nuclear Architecture in Whole-mount Ovules in Arabidopsis
Published on: June 19, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Attachment of Sister Chromatids
Attachment of Sister Chromatids
Histone Variants at the Centromere
Centrioles and Centrosomes
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...
Cohesins
Cohesin complexes in Meiotic Division
Meiosis involves two distinct rounds of chromosomal segregation and cell divisions— Meiosis I followed by Meiosis II – producing four daughter cells. Meiosis I includes the separation of...
Cohesins