Centric heterochromatin

Centric heterochromatin, a variety of heterochromatin, is a tightly packed form of DNA. Centric heterochromatin is a constituent in the formation of active centromeres in most higher-order organisms; the domain exists on both mitotic and interphase chromosomes.[1]

Centric heterochromatin is usually formed on alpha satellite DNA in humans; however, there have been cases where centric heterochromatin and centromeres have formed on originally euchromatin domains lacking alpha satellite DNA; this usually happens as a result of a chromosome breakage event and the formed centromere is called a neocentromere.[1]

Centric heterochromatin domains are flanked by pericentric heterochromatin.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Molecular Biology of the Cell. pp. 229–231. ISBN 978-0-8153-4105-5.
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