The mammalian centromere: its molecular architecture

The DNA and protein composition of the centromeric domains in mammalian chromosomes is now relatively well characterised. The major families of repeated DNAs, i.e., the simple-sequence and alphoids in man and the satellite sequences (both minor and major) in the mouse have been sequenced and long-range maps using pulse-field gels of some centromeres have been carried out. Autoimmune antibodies have provided an insight into some of the proteins which interact with these DNA sequences. Although the individual components of the mammalian centromere may have been identified, how they interact with each other to give the functional structure visualised by electron microscopy is yet to be determined. This review examines our understanding of these separate components.