Centromeres from lower eukaryotes

Introduction Most eukaryotic chromosomes contain a specialized domain — the centromere — that mediates critical mitotic and meiotic functions, including kinetochore nucleation, spindle attachment, and sister chromatid cohesion. These processes ensure faithful chromosome partitioning during cell division. Intense scrutiny of the DNA and proteins that comprise the centromere revealed its fundamental roles in chromosome mechanics and, in some cases, enabled the creation of artificial chromosomes. The centromeric DNA of several lower eukaryotes has been completely defined; much less is known about the centromeric DNA of higher eukaryotes, including plants. In this review we define parallels with lower eukaryotic systems, survey current models for higher eukaryotic centromere function, suggest guidelines for assessing models, and summarize the short-term prospects for investigating plant centromeres.