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Related Concept Videos

Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

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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...
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Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

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Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
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The Mitotic Spindle02:27

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The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
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Polytene Chromosomes02:04

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Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also...
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Centrosome Duplication02:25

Centrosome Duplication

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The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
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Attachment of Sister Chromatids02:57

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As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules.  Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall...
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Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
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Centromere structure and function: lessons from Drosophila.

Eftychia Kyriacou1, Patrick Heun2,3

  • 1Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Genetics
|November 6, 2023
PubMed
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Fruit fly centromeres offer insights into eukaryotic cell division. Studying Drosophila melanogaster reveals conserved and unique mechanisms for chromosome segregation, advancing centromere biology.

Keywords:
DrosophilaFlyBookcentromereschromosomesepigeneticsfruit fly

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a key model organism for understanding fundamental biological processes.
  • Centromeres are crucial genomic regions for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • Kinetochores assemble on centromeres, connecting chromosomes to spindle microtubules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a historical perspective on the study of fly centromeres.
  • To highlight similarities and differences between fly and other eukaryotic centromeres.
  • To advance the understanding of centromere biology and evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical studies on Drosophila centromeres.
  • Discussion of current knowledge on centromere sequence and chromatin organization.
  • Analysis of factors and processes involved in centromere epigenetic identity.

Main Results:

  • Identification of conserved and divergent strategies in centromere function across eukaryotes.
  • Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying centromere organization in flies.
  • Insights into the epigenetic regulation of centromeric loci.

Conclusions:

  • Drosophila centromere research has significantly contributed to centromere biology.
  • Comparative studies reveal evolutionary adaptations in centromere structure and function.
  • Further investigation into centromere drive offers new evolutionary perspectives.