Centromeres attach chromosomes to spindle microtubules during cell division and, despite this conserved role, show paradoxically rapid evolution and are typified by complex repeats. We used long-read sequencing to generate the Col-CEN Arabidopsis thaliana genome assembly that resolves all five centromeres. The centromeres consist of megabase-scale tandemly repeated satellite arrays, which support CENTROMERE SPECIFIC HISTONE H3 (CENH3) occupancy and are densely DNA methylated, with satellite variants private to each chromosome. CENH3 preferentially occupies satellites that show the least amount of divergence and occur in higher-order repeats. The centromeres are invaded by ATHILA retrotransposons, which disrupt genetic and epigenetic organization. Centromeric crossover recombination is suppressed, yet low levels of meiotic DNA double-strand breaks occur that are regulated by DNA methylation. We propose that Arabidopsis centromeres are evolving through cycles of satellite homogenization and retrotransposon-driven diversification.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• centromera chemie   genetika   MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin genetika   MeSH
• epigeneze genetická * MeSH
• genom rostlinný MeSH
• histony analýza   MeSH
• meióza MeSH
• metylace DNA MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• rekombinace genetická MeSH
• retroelementy MeSH
• satelitní DNA MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• histony MeSH
• retroelementy MeSH
• satelitní DNA MeSH