Mutations in CEN3 cause aberrant chromosome segregation during meiosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We investigated the structural requirements of the centromere from chromosome III (CEN3) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by analyzing the ability of chromosomes with CEN3 mutations to segregate properly during meiosis. We analyzed diploid cells in which one or both copies of chromosome III carry a mutant centromere in place of the wild-type centromere and found that some alterations in the length, base composition and primary sequence characteristics of the central A+T-rich region (CDE II) of the centromere had a significant effect on the ability of the chromosome to segregate properly through meiosis. Chromosomes containing mutations which delete a portion of CDE II showed a high rate of premature disjunction at meiosis I. Chromosomes containing point mutations in CDE I or lacking CDE I appeared to segregate properly through meiosis; however, plasmids carrying centromeres with CDE I completely deleted showed an increased frequency of segregation to nonsister spores.