Distinct evolutionary trajectories of subgenomic centromeres in polyploid wheat.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Centromeres are crucial for precise chromosome segregation and maintaining genome stability during cell division. However, their evolutionary dynamics, particularly in polyploid organisms with complex genomic architectures, remain largely enigmatic. Allopolyploid wheat, with its well-defined hierarchical ploidy series and recent polyploidization history, serves as an excellent model to explore centromere evolution.

Results

In this study, we perform a systematic comparative analysis of centromeres in common wheat and its corresponding ancestral species, utilizing the latest comprehensive reference genome assembly available. Our findings reveal that wheat centromeres predominantly consist of five types of centromeric-specific retrotransposon elements (CRWs), with CR

SUBMITTER: Huang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12418699 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature