New insights into centromeres from Arabidopsis Col-CEN assembly

Centromeres have an essential and conserved role in eukaryotes, and represent a paradoxical feature of rapid evolution. A recent study by Naish et al. applied long-read sequencing to survey a genome assembly of all five Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) centromeres. Analyses of these centromeres showed characteristic genetic and epigenetic features, providing new insights into centromere evolution. Centromeres have an essential and conserved role in eukaryotes, and represent a paradoxical feature of rapid evolution. A recent study by Naish et al. applied long-read sequencing to survey a genome assembly of all five Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) centromeres. Analyses of these centromeres showed characteristic genetic and epigenetic features, providing new insights into centromere evolution.