Kinetochores are proteinaceous organelles that assemble on centromeric DNA to direct chromosome segregation in all eukaryotes.
While many aspects of kinetochore function are conserved, the nature of the chromosomal domain upon which kinetochores assemble
varies dramatically between different species. In monocentric eukaryotes, kinetochores assemble on a localized region of each
chromosome. In contrast, holocentric species such as the nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans have diffuse kinetochores that form along the entire length of their chromosomes. Here, we discuss the nature of chromosome
segregation in
C. elegans. In addition to reviewing what is known about kinetochore function, chromosome structure, and chromosome movement, we consider
the consequences of the specialized holocentric architecture on chromosome segregation.
Caenorhabditis elegans
- centromere - holocentric - microtubule - mitosis - nematode
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.