Arabidopsis thaliana Centromere Regions: Genetic Map Positions and Repetitive DNA Structure

Abstract
The genetic positions of the five Arabidopsis thalianacentromere regions have been identified by mapping size polymorphisms in the centromeric 180-bp repeat arrays. Structural and genetic analysis indicates that 180-bp repeat arrays of up to 1000 kb are found in the centromere region of each chromosome. The genetic behavior of the centromeric arrays suggests that recombination within the arrays is suppressed. These results indicate that the centromere regions ofA. thaliana resemble human centromeres in size and genomic organization.