Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres

Matthew Naish, Michael Alonge, Piotr Wlodzimierz, Andrew J. Tock, Bradley W. Abramson, Christophe Lambing, Pallas Kuo, Natasha Yelina, Nolan Hartwick, Kelly Colt, Tetsuji Kakutani, Robert A. Martienssen, Alexandros Bousios, Todd P. Michael, Michael C. Schatz, View ORCID ProfileIan R. Henderson
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.30.446350
Matthew Naish
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michael Alonge
2Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Piotr Wlodzimierz
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Andrew J. Tock
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Bradley W. Abramson
3The Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Christophe Lambing
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Pallas Kuo
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Natasha Yelina
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Nolan Hartwick
3The Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Kelly Colt
3The Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Tetsuji Kakutani
4Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Robert A. Martienssen
5Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Alexandros Bousios
6School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, United Kingdom, UK
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Todd P. Michael
3The Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michael C. Schatz
2Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: mschatz@cs.jhu.edu irh25@cam.ac.uk
Ian R. Henderson
1Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Ian R. Henderson
  • For correspondence: mschatz@cs.jhu.edu irh25@cam.ac.uk
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

Centromeres attach chromosomes to spindle microtubules during cell division and, despite this conserved role, show paradoxically rapid evolution and are typified by complex repeats. We used ultra-long-read sequencing to generate the Col-CEN Arabidopsis thaliana genome assembly that resolves all five centromeres. The centromeres consist of megabase-scale tandemly repeated satellite arrays, which support high CENH3 occupancy and are densely DNA methylated, with satellite variants private to each chromosome. CENH3 preferentially occupies satellites with least divergence and greatest higher-order repetition. The centromeres are invaded by ATHILA retrotransposons, which disrupt genetic and epigenetic organization of the centromeres. Crossover recombination is suppressed within the centromeres, yet low levels of meiotic DSBs occur that are regulated by DNA methylation. We propose that Arabidopsis centromeres are evolving via cycles of satellite homogenization and retrotransposon-driven diversification.

One-sentence summary Long read sequencing and assembly of the Arabidopsis centromeres reveals their genetic and epigenetic topography.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted May 31, 2021.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres
Matthew Naish, Michael Alonge, Piotr Wlodzimierz, Andrew J. Tock, Bradley W. Abramson, Christophe Lambing, Pallas Kuo, Natasha Yelina, Nolan Hartwick, Kelly Colt, Tetsuji Kakutani, Robert A. Martienssen, Alexandros Bousios, Todd P. Michael, Michael C. Schatz, Ian R. Henderson
bioRxiv 2021.05.30.446350; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.30.446350
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres
Matthew Naish, Michael Alonge, Piotr Wlodzimierz, Andrew J. Tock, Bradley W. Abramson, Christophe Lambing, Pallas Kuo, Natasha Yelina, Nolan Hartwick, Kelly Colt, Tetsuji Kakutani, Robert A. Martienssen, Alexandros Bousios, Todd P. Michael, Michael C. Schatz, Ian R. Henderson
bioRxiv 2021.05.30.446350; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.30.446350

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Genomics
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (3607)
  • Biochemistry (7581)
  • Bioengineering (5529)
  • Bioinformatics (20809)
  • Biophysics (10338)
  • Cancer Biology (7988)
  • Cell Biology (11647)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (6611)
  • Ecology (10217)
  • Epidemiology (2065)
  • Evolutionary Biology (13630)
  • Genetics (9550)
  • Genomics (12854)
  • Immunology (7925)
  • Microbiology (19555)
  • Molecular Biology (7668)
  • Neuroscience (42147)
  • Paleontology (308)
  • Pathology (1258)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2203)
  • Physiology (3269)
  • Plant Biology (7051)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1294)
  • Synthetic Biology (1952)
  • Systems Biology (5429)
  • Zoology (1119)