Centromeres are the genomic regions that organize and regulate chromosome behaviours during cell cycle, and their variations are associated with genome instability, karyotype evolution and speciation in eukaryotes. The highly repetitive and epigenetic nature of centromeres were documented during the past half century. With the aid of rapid expansion in genomic biotechnology tools, the complete sequence and structural organization of several plant and human centromeres were revealed recently. Here, we systematically summarize the current knowledge of centromere biology with regard to the DNA compositions and the histone H3 variant (CENH3)-dependent centromere establishment and identity. We discuss the roles of centromere to ensure cell division and to maintain the three-dimensional (3D) genomic architecture in different species. We further highlight the potential applications of manipulating centromeres to generate haploids or to induce polyploids offspring in plant for breeding programs, and of targeting centromeres with CRISPR/Cas for chromosome engineering and speciation. Finally, we also assess the challenges and strategies for de novo design and synthesis of centromeres in plant artificial chromosomes. The biotechnology applications of plant centromeres will be of great potential for the genetic improvement of crops and precise synthetic breeding in the future.

中文翻译：

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着丝粒：从染色体生物学到生物技术应用和植物合成基因组

着丝粒是在细胞周期中组织和调节染色体行为的基因组区域，其变异与真核生物的基因组不稳定性、核型进化和物种形成有关。在过去的半个世纪中，记录了着丝粒的高度重复和表观遗传性质。借助基因组生物技术工具的快速扩展，最近揭示了几种植物和人类着丝粒的完整序列和结构组织。在这里，我们系统地总结了当前着丝粒生物学有关 DNA 组成和组蛋白 H3 变体 (CENH3) 依赖的着丝粒建立和身份的知识。我们讨论着丝粒在确保细胞分裂和维持不同物种的三维 (3D) 基因组结构方面的作用。我们进一步强调了操纵着丝粒以产生单倍体或在植物中诱导多倍体后代以进行育种计划的潜在应用，以及使用 CRISPR/Cas 靶向着丝粒进行染色体工程和物种形成的潜在应用。最后，我们还评估了植物人工染色体着丝粒从头设计和合成的挑战和策略。植物着丝粒的生物技术应用对于未来农作物的遗传改良和精准合成育种具有巨大的潜力。