CenH3 distribution reveals extended centromeres in the model beetle Tribolium castaneum

PLoS Genet. 2020 Oct 30;16(10):e1009115. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009115. eCollection 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Centromeres are chromosomal domains essential for kinetochore assembly and correct chromosome segregation. Inconsistent in their underlying DNA sequences, centromeres are defined epigenetically by the presence of the centromere-specific histone H3 variant CenH3. Most of the analyzed eukaryotes have monocentric chromosomes in which CenH3 proteins deposit into a single, primary constriction visible at metaphase chromosomes. Contrary to monocentrics, evolutionary sporadic holocentric chromosomes lack a primary constriction and have kinetochore activity distributed along the entire chromosome length. In this work, we identified cCENH3 protein, the centromeric H3 histone of the coleopteran model beetle Tribolium castaneum. By ChIP-seq analysis we disclosed that cCENH3 chromatin assembles upon a repertoire of repetitive DNAs. cCENH3 in situ mapping revealed unusually elongated T. castaneum centromeres that comprise approximately 40% of the chromosome length. Being the longest insect regional centromeres evidenced so far, T. castaneum centromeres are characterized by metapolycentric structure composed of several individual cCENH3-containing domains. We suggest that the model beetle T. castaneum with its metapolycentromeres could represent an excellent model for further studies of non-canonical centromeres in insects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence / genetics
  • Centromere / genetics*
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics*
  • Chromosome Segregation / genetics
  • Histones / genetics*
  • Kinetochores
  • Tribolium / genetics*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Histones

Grants and funding

This work has been supported by grant IP-2014-09-3183 from Croatian Science Foundation (https://hrzz.hr/) to MP. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.