Components and structures of plant centromeres

Centromeres are functional chromosomal loci involved in an overall process that delivers sister chromatids equally into daughter cells during mitosis and meiosis. A complex of centromeric DNA and proteins is formed at the primary constriction point, and is referred to as the kinetochore. Since this function is essential for all eukaryotes, the process and centromeric proteins involved are conserved among eukaryotes. On the other hand, the DNA components and structures of centromeres are highly variable among eukaryotes. In the last decade, a plethora of investigations concerning plant centromeric components including centromeric DNA and proteins have been conducted which have shed light on these enigmatic chromosomal regions and associated functions. In this review, an overview of plant centromeric components including centromeric proteins (CENP-C, centromere specific histone H3 variants, and MIS12) and centromeric DNA and structures of plant centromeres (Arabidopsis, rice, and Luzula) are presented.