The centromere is the DNA region that ensures genetic stability and is therefore of vital importance. Paradoxically, centromere proteins and centromeric structural domains are conserved despite that fact that centromere DNA sequences are highly variable and are not conserved. Remarkably, heritable states at the centromere can be propagated independent of the underlying centromeric DNA sequences. This review describes the epigenetic mechanisms governing centromere behavior, i.e., the mechanisms that control centromere assembly and propagation. A centromeric histone variant, CenH3, and histone modifications play key roles at centromeric chromatin. Histone modifications and RNA interference are important in assembly of pericentric heterochromatin structures. The molecular machinery that is directly involved in epigenetic control of centromeres is shared with regulation of gene expression. Nucleosome remodeling factors, histone chaperones, histone-modifying enzymes, transcription factors, and even RNA polymerase II itself control epigenetic states at centromeres.

中文翻译：

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着丝粒行为的表观遗传控制。

着丝粒是确保遗传稳定性的DNA区域，因此至关重要。自相矛盾的是，着丝粒蛋白和着丝粒结构域是保守的，尽管着丝粒DNA序列高度可变且不保守。值得注意的是，着丝粒的遗传状态可以独立于潜在的着丝粒DNA序列而传播。这篇综述描述了控制着丝粒行为的表观遗传机制，即控制着丝粒组装和繁殖的机制。着丝粒组蛋白变体CenH3和组蛋白修饰在着丝粒染色质上起关键作用。组蛋白修饰和RNA干扰在周围异染色质结构的组装中很重要。直接参与着丝粒的表观遗传控制的分子机制与基因表达的调节共有。核小体重塑因子，组蛋白伴侣，组蛋白修饰酶，转录因子，甚至RNA聚合酶II本身都控制着丝粒的表观遗传状态。