Evidence for holocentric centromeres in the early branching apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum.

CENH3-marked centromeres in Cryptosporidium parvum show diffuse staining during nuclear division and overlap with telomeres in the apical nucleus.

• Why it matters: Centromere organization and chromosome segregation during C. parvum asexual nuclear divisions are poorly understood, limiting insight into how chromosomes are partitioned.
• What they did: The team visualized H3 histones, including CENH3, telomeres, and centrosomes during mitosis, then mapped CENH3 binding sites using CENH3 capture and DNA sequencing across all eight chromosomes.
• The result: Numerous distinct CENH3 binding sites are scattered across all eight chromosomes, including coding and intergenic regions typified by GA-rich repeats, supporting a holocentric structure unlike single regional centromeres in related apicomplexans.