This study uses CRISPR to reposition centromeres in Arabidopsis, showing how neo-chromosomes with altered centromere positions lead to meiotic segregation distortion and aneuploidy.

bioRxiv · Jul 24, 2026 · PreprintGenetics

Natural variation modifies centromere proximal meiotic crossover frequency and segregation distortion in Arabidopsis thaliana

Nicola Gorringe, Stephanie D. Topp, Robin Burns, Sota Yamaguchi, Fernando A. Rabanal, Joiselle Blanche Fernandes, Detlef Weigel, Tetsuji Kakutani, Matthew Naish, Ian R. Henderson

The paper investigates how natural genetic variation in Arabidopsis thaliana affects centromere-proximal crossover frequency and segregation distortion during meiosis.

Genetics · Dec 8, 2025Peer-reviewedGenetics

CDCA7 facilitates MET1-mediated CG DNA methylation maintenance in centromeric heterochromatin via histone H1

Shuya Wang, Tong Li, Matthew Naish, Russell Chuang, Evan K. Lin, Christian Fonkalsrud, Yan He, Suhua Feng, Ian R. Henderson, Steven E. Jacobsen

The paper shows CDCA7A and CDCA7B maintain CG methylation in centromeric heterochromatin by remodeling H1-containing nucleosomes, with H1 having an inhibitory role.

bioRxiv · Sep 22, 2025 · PreprintMolecular Biology

The 1001G+ project: A curated collection of Arabidopsis thaliana long-read genome assemblies to advance plant research

Carlos Alonso‐Blanco, Haim Ashkenazy, Pierre Baduel, Zhigui Bao, Claude Becker, Erwann Caillieux, Vincent Colot, Duncan B. Crosbie, Louna De Oliveira, Joffrey Fitz, Katrin Fritschi, Elizaveta Grigoreva, Ya‐Long Guo, Anette Habring, Ian R. Henderson, , Wenfei Xian

The paper curates and presents a collection of long-read genome assemblies for Arabidopsis thaliana accessions to enhance plant genome research.

bioRxiv · Dec 23, 2024 · PreprintGenomics

Structural variation and DNA methylation shape the centromere-proximal meiotic crossover landscape in Arabidopsis

Joiselle Blanche Fernandes, Matthew Naish, Qichao Lian, Robin Burns, Andrew J. Tock, Fernando A. Rabanal, Piotr Włodzimierz, Anette Habring, Robert E. Nicholas, Detlef Weigel, Raphaël Mercier, Ian R. Henderson

The paper maps meiotic crossover landscapes near centromeres in Arabidopsis, showing suppression linked to structural variation and DNA methylation.

Genome biology · Jan 22, 2024Peer-reviewedGenomics

Complete sequence of a 641-kb insertion of mitochondrial DNA in the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome

Peter D. Fields, Gus Waneka, Matthew Naish, Michael C. Schatz, Ian R. Henderson, Daniel B. Sloan

The paper reports the complete sequence of a 641-kb mitochondrial DNA insertion in the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome using long-read sequencing technologies.

Genome Biology and Evolution · Apr 20, 2022Peer-reviewedGenomics

The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres

Matthew Naish, Michael Alonge, Piotr Włodzimierz, Andrew J. Tock, Bradley W. Abramson, Anna Schmücker, Terezie M. Mandáková, Bhagyshree Jamge, Christophe Lambing, Pallas C. Kuo, Natasha Yelina, Nolan T. Hartwick, Kelly Colt, Lisa M. Smith, Jurriaan Ton, , Ian R. Henderson

Ultra-long-read sequencing resolves Arabidopsis centromeres, revealing their genetic and epigenetic structure and dynamics.

Science · Nov 11, 2021Peer-reviewedGenomics