Structural and temporal regulation of centromeric chromatinThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled 29th Annual International Asilomar Chromatin and Chromosomes Conference, and has undergone the Journal’s usual peer review process.
Normal inheritance of genetic material requires that chromosomes segregate faithfully during mitosis and meiosis. The kinetochore is a unique structure that attaches chromosomes to the microtubule spindle, monitors proper chromosome attachment to the spindle through the mitotic checkpoint, and couples spindle and motor protein forces to move chromosomes during prometaphase and anaphase. The centromere is a specialized chromosomal site that is the structural and functional foundation for kinetochore formation, and is characterized by a unique type of chromatin that needs to be reconstituted after each replication cycle. In this review, recent progress in understanding the structural nature of this chromatin and how it is specifically maintained through cell division are discussed.