Abstract
Centromeres connect chromosomes and spindle microtubules to ensure faithful chromosome segregation. Paradoxically, despite this conserved function, centromeric DNA evolves rapidly and centromeric proteins show signatures of positive selection. The centromere drive hypothesis proposes that centromeric DNA can act like a selfish genetic element and drive non-Mendelian segregation during asymmetric female meiosis. Resulting fitness costs lead to genetic conflict with the rest of the genome and impose a selective pressure for centromeric proteins to adapt by suppressing the costs. Here, we describe experimental model systems for centromere drive in yellow monkeyflowers and mice, summarize key findings demonstrating centromere drive, and explain molecular mechanisms. We further discuss efforts to test if centromeric proteins are involved in suppressing drive-associated fitness costs, highlight a model for centromere drive and suppression in mice, and put forth outstanding questions for future research.
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Abbreviations
- BUB1:
-
Budding uninhibited by imidazole
- Cal1:
-
Chromosome alignment defect 1
- CDC42:
-
Cell division cycle 42
- CenH3:
-
Centromeric histone 3 (CENP-A orthologue in monkeyflowers)
- CENP-A:
-
Centromere protein A
- CENP-B:
-
Centromere protein B
- CENP-C:
-
Centromere protein C
- CENP-I:
-
Centromere protein I
- CENP-T:
-
Centromere protein T
- Cid:
-
Centromere identifier (CENP-A orthologue in Drosophila)
- DSN1:
-
Kinetochore-associated protein DSN1 homolog
- HJURP:
-
Holliday junction recognition protein
- HP1:
-
Heterochromatin protein 1
- HyPhy:
-
Hypothesis Testing using Phylogenies
- INCENP:
-
Inner centromere protein
- Kindr:
-
Kinesin driver
- KNL1:
-
Kinetochore scaffold 1
- MCAK:
-
Mitotic centromere-associated kinesin
- MELT:
-
Met-Glu-Leu-Thr motif
- MIS12:
-
Minichromosome instability-12
- MIS18BP1:
-
MIS18 binding protein 1
- NDC80:
-
Kinetochore protein NDC80 homolog
- PAML:
-
Phylogenetic Analysis by Maximum Likelihood
- RAN-GTP:
-
Ras-related nuclear protein-guanosine-5′-triphosphate
- SGO2:
-
Shugoshin-2
- Trkin:
-
TR-1 kinesin
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The research was supported by National Institutes of Health grant R35GM122475 to M.A.L. D.D. was supported by Swiss National Science Foundation Early Postdoc. Mobility grant P2GEP3_187772.
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D.D. and M.A.L. conceived the idea for the article, performed literature search, drafted, and critically revised the manuscript.
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Dudka, D., Lampson, M.A. Centromere drive: model systems and experimental progress. Chromosome Res 30, 187–203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-022-09696-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-022-09696-3