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

4.3K
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...
4.3K
Centrosome Duplication02:25

Centrosome Duplication

4.0K
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).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
4.0K
Chromosome Structure02:40

Chromosome Structure

22.8K
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...
22.8K
Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

Centrioles and Centrosomes

2.7K
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.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...
2.7K
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

6.1K
The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are...
6.1K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.3K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Stepwise emergence of recombination suppression precedes fissiparous asexuality in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Triploidy is prominent in the duckweed Lemna minor complex.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Newly unveiled meiosis elucidates the unreduced gamete frequency and its impact on the evolution of the Lemna minor complex.

Journal of experimental botany·2026
Same author

Genome sequence assembly of the 5S rDNA loci informs haplotype specificity and evolution in the greater duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Sorghum embryos undergoing B chromosome elimination express B-variants of mitotic-related genes.

Genome biology·2025
Same author

Kinetochore mutations and histone phosphorylation pattern changes accompany holo- and macro-monocentromere evolution.

Nature communications·2025
Same journal

AI in Genomics: From Variant Calling to Multi-Omics Integration.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Rethinking One Health: Microbial Foundations for Ecological Governance.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Biobanked Liver Organoids: A Roadmap for Precision Hepatology.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2026
Same journal

The Temporal Architecture of Human Cells: Organelle Clocks and Distributed Circadian Time.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Opposing Activity at the Apical Surface: An Antagonistic Collaboration Between Crumbs and Myosin II Determines Organ Shape.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Hidden Fungal DNA Structures May Shape Sequencing Outcomes.

BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
05:35

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

15.2K

Centromere diversity: How different repeat-based holocentromeres may have evolved.

Yi-Tzu Kuo1, Veit Schubert1, André Marques2

  • 1Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|April 9, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Holocentric chromosomes, found in some species, have centromeres along their entire length. This study explores two types of repeat-based holocentromeres, revealing diverse evolutionary mechanisms for centromere formation.

Keywords:
centromereevolutionholocentromere

More Related Videos

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
09:39

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes

Published on: December 20, 2014

15.3K
Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
09:41

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

16.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
05:35

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

15.2K
Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes
09:39

Quantitative Immunofluorescence Assay to Measure the Variation in Protein Levels at Centrosomes

Published on: December 20, 2014

15.3K
Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
09:41

Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes

Published on: September 20, 2013

16.0K

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Eukaryotes exhibit monocentric (single centromere) or holocentric (distributed centromeres) chromosome organization.
  • Holocentromeres can be repeat-based or repeat-less, with repeat-based types further classified into small unit-type and large unit-type.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesized mechanisms for the formation of two distinct types of repeat-based holocentromeres.
  • To understand the evolutionary plasticity and diverse formation pathways of holocentromeres.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of holocentric species, including Rhynchospora pubera (small unit-type) and Chionographis japonica (large unit-type).
  • Hypothesizing transposable element-mediated dispersal for small unit-type holocentromeres.
  • Proposing simultaneous DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and extra-chromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) insertion for large unit-type holocentromeres.

Main Results:

  • The small unit-type holocentromere in Rhynchospora pubera is hypothesized to form via transposable element-driven dispersal of satellite arrays.
  • The large unit-type holocentromere in Chionographis japonica is proposed to arise from de novo formation initiated by DSBs and eccDNA insertion.
  • The number of initial DSBs is likely greater than the final number of centromere units, with subsequent histone variant incorporation.

Conclusions:

  • Repeat-based holocentromeres exhibit diverse formation mechanisms, including transposable element activity and DSB-induced eccDNA integration.
  • Understanding these mechanisms highlights the evolutionary adaptability of centromere structures.
  • Further identification of repeat-based holocentromeres across lineages will illuminate centromere plasticity.