Robertsonian Fusion and Centromere Repositioning Contributed to the Formation of Satellite-free Centromeres During the Evolution of Zebras.

ABSTRACT: Centromeres are epigenetically specified by the histone H3 variant CENP-A and typically associated with highly repetitive satellite DNA. We previously discovered natural satellite-free neocentromeres in Equus caballus and Equus asinus. Here, through ChIP-seq with an anti-CENP-A antibody, we found an extraordinarily high number of centromeres lacking satellite DNA in the zebras Equus burchelli (15 of 22) and Equus grevyi (13 of 23), demonstrating that the absence of satellite DNA at the majority of centromeres is compatible with genome stability and species survival and challenging the role of satellite DNA in centromere function. Nine satellite-free centromeres are shared between the two species in agreement with their recent separation. We assembled all centromeric regions and improved th

SUBMITTER: Cappelletti E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9356731 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature