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Identification of the centromeres of Leishmania major : revealing the hidden pieces
Author(s) -
GarciaSilva MariaRosa,
Sollelis Lauriane,
MacPherson Cameron Ross,
Stanojcic Slavica,
Kuk Nada,
Crobu Lucien,
Bringaud Frédéric,
Bastien Patrick,
Pagès Michel,
Scherf Artur,
Sterkers Yvon
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.15252/embr.201744216
Subject(s) - parasitology , library science , biology , zoology , computer science
Leishmania affects millions of people worldwide. Its genome undergoes constitutive mosaic aneuploidy, a type of genomic plasticity that may serve as an adaptive strategy to survive distinct host environments. We previously found high rates of asymmetric chromosome allotments during mitosis that lead to the generation of such ploidy. However, the underlying molecular events remain elusive. Centromeres and kinetochores most likely play a key role in this process, yet their identification has failed using classical methods. Our analysis of the unconventional kinetochore complex recently discovered in Trypanosoma brucei ( KKT s) leads to the identification of a Leishmania KKT gene candidate (Lm KKT 1). The GFP ‐tagged Lm KKT 1 displays “kinetochore‐like” dynamics of intranuclear localization throughout the cell cycle. By Ch IP ‐Seq assay, one major peak per chromosome is revealed, covering a region of 4 ±2 kb. We find two largely conserved motifs mapping to 14 of 36 chromosomes while a higher density of retroposons are observed in 27 of 36 centromeres. The identification of centromeres and of a kinetochore component of Leishmania chromosomes opens avenues to explore their role in mosaic aneuploidy.