Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Significance</jats:title>
<jats:p>There is an epigenetic requirement for de novo kinetochore assembly in budding yeast. Perturbations that delay S phase suppress assembly defects. We propose a role for replication fork progression in allowing DNA to adopt configurations conducive for centromere function. The function of replication fork stalling upon encounters with DNA damage or other blockades is to allow time for thermal fluctuations of the DNA chain to explore numerous configurations. Biasing thermodynamics provides a mechanism to facilitate macromolecular assembly, DNA repair, and other nucleic acid transactions at the replication fork. These loop configurations are essential for sister centromere separation and kinetochore assembly in the absence of the COMA complex.</jats:p>