Holocentric plant meiosis: first sisters, then homologues

Cell Cycle. 2014;13(23):3623-4. doi: 10.4161/15384101.2014.986628.

Abstract

Meiosis is a crucial process of sexual reproduction by forming haploid gametes from diploid precursor cells. It involves 2 subsequent divisions (meiosis I and meiosis II) after one initial round of DNA replication. Homologous monocentric chromosomes are separated during the first and sister chromatids during the second meiotic division. The faithful segregation of monocentric chromosomes is realized by mono-orientation of fused sister kinetochores at metaphase I and by bi-orientation of sister kinetochores at metaphase II. Conventionally this depends on a 2-step loss of cohesion, along chromosome arms during meiosis I and at sister centromeres during meiosis II.

Keywords: Luzula elegans; Rhynchospora; centromere organization; chromatin threads; holocentric chromosome; holokinetic kinetochore; inverted meiosis; satellite DNA.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Meiosis / physiology*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange / physiology*

Substances

  • Plant Proteins