High-resolution genome assembly reveals retrotransposon-mediated centromere dynamics in rye
Our findings establish retrotransposons as autonomous organizers of centromere chromatin and identity in rye, challenging the paradigm of satellite-dependent centromere specification. The dual role of retrotransposons in maintaining CENH3 recruitment while facilitating genomic innovation provides a mechanistic basis for centromere plasticity. This work advances functional genomics of Triticeae crops and opens new avenues for centromere engineering to manipulate meiotic stability and chromosome transmission in crop breeding.
Authors
- Wei He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9547-6516)
- Congle Zhu
- Congyang Yi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4168-8051)
- Chen Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8104-2848)
- Fangpu Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8393-3575)
- Qian Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0560-4287)
- Chang Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7668-3317)
- Yang Liu
- Chunhui Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8863-1808)
- Jing Yuan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6939-9676)
Institutions
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics (CN)
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Genome biology
- Published
- 2025-09-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-025-03792-3
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.50
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- National Key Research and Development Program of China