CENTROMERE - HUB OF CHROMOSOMAL ACTIVITIES

Centromeres are the structures that direct eukaryotic chromosome segre gation In mitosis and meiosis. There are two major classes of centrome res. Point centromeres, found in the budding yeasts, are compact loci whose constituent proteins are now beginning to yield to biochemical a nalysis. Regional centromeres, best described in the fission yeast Sch izosaccharomyces pombe, encompass many kilobases of DNA and are packag ed into heterochromatin. Their associated proteins are as yet poorly u nderstood. In addition to providing the site for microtubule attachmen t, centromeres also have an important role in checkpoint regulation du ring mitosis.