Scholarlink

Background <p>In most eukaryotes, chromosomes are monocentric, each containing a single centromeric region. However, plant-parasitic nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne display a unique, repeat-based and clustered centromere organization. This unusual centromere structure, together with their asexual reproductive strategies, provides an opportunity to investigate the diversity and evolution of centromere organization.</p> Results <p>Using high-quality genome assemblies, we examine the genome organization and evolutionary patterns of centromeres in six Meloidogyne species differing in reproductive strategies (mitotic parthenogenesis vs. meiotic reproduction) and ploidy (polyploid vs. diploid). All species possess conserved CenH3 and 19-bp box-containing tandem repeats in their centromeres. Centromeric regions in three closely related and one distantly related mitotic/polyploid species exhibit a complex organization, predominantly consisting of higher-order arrangements of centromeric arrays associated with both autonomous and non-autonomous Helitron transposons, leading to longer and more dispersed centromeric regions. In contrast, meiotic/diploid species have simpler, less expanded centromeres that lack Helitron elements, highlighting the role of Helitron-mediated amplification and spread of centromeres in mitotic/polyploid species.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings suggest that reproductive strategy and/or genome ploidy may influence centromere organization, although it remains to be determined whether these factors are causative or simply correlated with differences in centromere organization. We suggest that the expansion-prone centromeric regions in mitotic/polyploid Meloidogyne may drive rapid chromosome evolution, potentially influencing their adaptability to environmental changes.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Reproductive mode and ploidy are associated with distinct organization of clustered centromeric regions in Meloidogyne nematodes

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月27日

查看全文
  • Evelin Despot-Slade,
  • Marin Volarić,
  • Damira Veseljak,
  • Lucija Horvat,
  • Lana Semenić,
  • Ana Paula Zotta Mota,
  • Marine Poullet,
  • Etienne G. J. Danchin,
  • Brankica Mravinac,
  • Nevenka Meštrović

摘要

Background

In most eukaryotes, chromosomes are monocentric, each containing a single centromeric region. However, plant-parasitic nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne display a unique, repeat-based and clustered centromere organization. This unusual centromere structure, together with their asexual reproductive strategies, provides an opportunity to investigate the diversity and evolution of centromere organization.

Results

Using high-quality genome assemblies, we examine the genome organization and evolutionary patterns of centromeres in six Meloidogyne species differing in reproductive strategies (mitotic parthenogenesis vs. meiotic reproduction) and ploidy (polyploid vs. diploid). All species possess conserved CenH3 and 19-bp box-containing tandem repeats in their centromeres. Centromeric regions in three closely related and one distantly related mitotic/polyploid species exhibit a complex organization, predominantly consisting of higher-order arrangements of centromeric arrays associated with both autonomous and non-autonomous Helitron transposons, leading to longer and more dispersed centromeric regions. In contrast, meiotic/diploid species have simpler, less expanded centromeres that lack Helitron elements, highlighting the role of Helitron-mediated amplification and spread of centromeres in mitotic/polyploid species.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that reproductive strategy and/or genome ploidy may influence centromere organization, although it remains to be determined whether these factors are causative or simply correlated with differences in centromere organization. We suggest that the expansion-prone centromeric regions in mitotic/polyploid Meloidogyne may drive rapid chromosome evolution, potentially influencing their adaptability to environmental changes.