Heterocentric [Rech. Heteros Other, Different + Centro(Measure)]

A heterocentric chromosome is a dicentric chromosome in which one of the two centromeres is inactive. Due to the low activity of one centromere, the heterocentric chromosome behaves like a monocentric chromosome during mitosis.

The term "heterocentric" comes from the Greek words "heteros" - "other, different, different" and "centro" - "center". This indicates the presence of two centromeres with different activity on one chromosome.

Heterocentric chromosomes are formed as a result of chromosomal aberrations, such as translocations or fusions of chromosome ends. In this case, centromeres from two different chromosomes combine into one chromosome. However, such a dicentric chromosome turns out to be unstable and often loses the activity of one of the centromeres.

The presence of heterocentric chromosomes can lead to disturbances in chromosome segregation in mitosis and the appearance of aneuploid cells. Therefore, heterocentricity is considered a chromosomal abnormality and may be associated with an increased risk of disease.

A heterocentric cell is a bicentric type of prophase metaphase with one more active peripheral and one less active internal centromere. This description suggests that centromeres are regions of chromosomes that determine the separation of sister chromatids during mitotic cell division. And the heterocentric arrangement of centromeres means that chromosomes behave as dicentric during mitosis, that is, they have two (or more) active poles of bidysplasia

In fact, the nature of the heterocentric arrangement of centromeres is an unsolved problem that biological science of all times continues to unravel. Some scientists believe that heterocentricity results from a deficiency or abnormality in some type of molecular connection that locates functional sites in DNA

It follows that the study of heterocentric cells can provide new data on the structural organization of the entire genome

Heterocentricity occurs in most cases as a consequence of damage (insufficiency) of the metabolic processes of chromosomes. Impaired function of β-strands (immersed intracentriolar rods) leads to the fact that they cannot effectively maintain a stable position at the center