Synthetic maize centromeres transmit chromosomes across generations.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Centromeres are crucial for chromosome segregation but are difficult to engineer.
• Existing methods for creating functional centromeres in vivo are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for engineering functional centromeres in maize.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using synthetic centromeres for karyotype engineering.

Main Methods:

• A LexA-CENH3 fusion protein was used to recruit native Centromeric Histone H3 (CENH3) to synthetic LexO repeat arrays on a chromosome arm.
• Kinetochore formation and chromosome breakage were induced at the synthetic arrays.
• The segregation and inheritance of resulting chromosome fragments and neochromosomes were analyzed through meiosis.

Main Results:

• Functional centromeres were successfully established at synthetic sequence arrays in maize.
• Chromosome fragments containing synthetic centromeres were generated and passed through meiosis.
• These fragments formed stable, self-sustaining neochromosomes that were transmitted to progeny.

Conclusions:

• The tethering approach enables the activation of functional centromeres at engineered loci.
• Synthetic centromeres can be stably inherited and utilized for karyotype engineering.
• This method offers a promising tool for manipulating plant genomes.