Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology

, Volume 25, Issue 4, pp 339–348 | Cite as

Centromeric histone H3 protein: from basic study to plant breeding applications

  • Anshul Watts
  • Vajinder Kumar
  • Shripad Ramachandra Bhat
Review Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Centromere is the defining unit of a chromosome where kinetochore complex assembles and facilitates chromosome segregation. Centromeres contain unique repetitive sequences and are enriched with transposons and retrotransposons. Although how centromere is determined is still not clearly understood, binding of a key protein, namely, the Centromeric Histone H3 (CENH3) to centromeric repetitive DNA sequences has been found to be critical for the specification of centromere. Hence, centromeres are said to be epigenetically specified by CENH3. Despite considerable variation in size and sequence, CENH3 protein shows significant conservation of structure and function. CENH3 disruption or overexpression shows severe defects in spindle fiber attachment and ultimately leads to embryo lethality. Basic studies on complementation of CENH3 in Arabidopsis thaliana have led to the development of a novel method of haploid production through selective elimination of one set of parental chromosomes in the zygote. These findings have also shed new light on selective loss of chromosomes in interspecific crosses of Hordeum vulgare × H. bulbosum. Here, we briefly review unique features of CENH3 and discuss the new plant breeding opportunities that have emerged from the study of CENH3.

Keywords

Apomixis Centromere Chromosome elimination Haploid Reverse breeding 

Abbreviations

CATD

CENP-A targeting domain

CID

Centromere identifier

CPAR-1

Centromeric protein A related 1

CSE4

Chromosome segregation 4

HCP3

Holocentric protein 3

HFD

Histone fold domain

HTR12

Histone three related 12

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Notes

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

AW and VK received Research Fellowship from ICAR/IARI, New Delhi, India. SRB has received grant from the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India for pursuing work on CENH3.

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Copyright information

© Society for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Anshul Watts
    • 1
  • Vajinder Kumar
    • 1
  • Shripad Ramachandra Bhat
    • 1
  1. 1.ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant BiotechnologyNew DelhiIndia

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