The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin
A conserved feature of virtually all higher eukaryotes is that the centromeres are embedded in heterochromatin. Here we provide evidence that this tight association between pericentric heterochromatin and the centromere is essential for proper metaphase exit and progression into telophase. Analysis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/7/1247 |
| _version_ | 1797439804155101184 |
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| author | Brandt Warecki William Sullivan |
| author_facet | Brandt Warecki William Sullivan |
| author_sort | Brandt Warecki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A conserved feature of virtually all higher eukaryotes is that the centromeres are embedded in heterochromatin. Here we provide evidence that this tight association between pericentric heterochromatin and the centromere is essential for proper metaphase exit and progression into telophase. Analysis of chromosome rearrangements that separate pericentric heterochromatin and centromeres indicates that they must remain associated in order to balance Cohesin/DNA catenation-based binding forces and centromere-based pulling forces during the metaphase–anaphase transition. In addition, a centromere embedded in heterochromatin facilitates nuclear envelope assembly around the entire complement of segregating chromosomes. Because the nuclear envelope initially forms on pericentric heterochromatin, nuclear envelope formation proceeds from the pole, thus providing time for incorporation of lagging and trailing chromosome arms into the newly formed nucleus. Additional analysis of noncanonical mitoses provides further insights into the functional significance of the tight association between heterochromatin and centromeres. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:59:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53b8814afeee4ffc841f6b5ed50ba140 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:59:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-53b8814afeee4ffc841f6b5ed50ba1402023-11-30T23:05:33ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-04-01117124710.3390/cells11071247The Cell Biology of HeterochromatinBrandt Warecki0William Sullivan1Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USADepartment of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USAA conserved feature of virtually all higher eukaryotes is that the centromeres are embedded in heterochromatin. Here we provide evidence that this tight association between pericentric heterochromatin and the centromere is essential for proper metaphase exit and progression into telophase. Analysis of chromosome rearrangements that separate pericentric heterochromatin and centromeres indicates that they must remain associated in order to balance Cohesin/DNA catenation-based binding forces and centromere-based pulling forces during the metaphase–anaphase transition. In addition, a centromere embedded in heterochromatin facilitates nuclear envelope assembly around the entire complement of segregating chromosomes. Because the nuclear envelope initially forms on pericentric heterochromatin, nuclear envelope formation proceeds from the pole, thus providing time for incorporation of lagging and trailing chromosome arms into the newly formed nucleus. Additional analysis of noncanonical mitoses provides further insights into the functional significance of the tight association between heterochromatin and centromeres.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/7/1247heterochromatincentromerechromosome segregationnuclear envelope reassembly |
| spellingShingle | Brandt Warecki William Sullivan The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin Cells heterochromatin centromere chromosome segregation nuclear envelope reassembly |
| title | The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin |
| title_full | The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin |
| title_fullStr | The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin |
| title_short | The Cell Biology of Heterochromatin |
| title_sort | cell biology of heterochromatin |
| topic | heterochromatin centromere chromosome segregation nuclear envelope reassembly |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/7/1247 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brandtwarecki thecellbiologyofheterochromatin AT williamsullivan thecellbiologyofheterochromatin AT brandtwarecki cellbiologyofheterochromatin AT williamsullivan cellbiologyofheterochromatin |