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Dr. Inna Lermontova

Research focus

The Kinetochore Biology (KB) research group is dedicated to investigate the mechanisms of kinetochore assembly and function in plants. We aim to decipher the loading process of the centromere-specific histone variant CENH3, identify and characterize novel kinetochore components, analyze kinetochore protein interaction networks, and elucidate epigenetic regulation involved in kinetochore assembly. Additionally, we explore haploid induction via manipulation of CENH3 assembly factors, a technique that accelerates the development of homozygous lines in plant breeding.

Research picture Inna Lermontova

© Inna Lermontova

Most important publications

  1. Zuo S, Yadala R, Yang F, Talbert P, Fuchs J, Schubert V, Ahmadli U, Rutten T, Pecinka A, Lysak MA, Lermontova I (2022) Recurrent Plant-Specific Duplications of KNL2 and Its Conserved Function as a Kinetochore Assembly Factor. Mol Biol Evol 39(6). doi: 10.1093/molbev/msac123.
  2. Ahmadli U, Kalidass M, Khaitova LC, Fuchs J, Cuacos M, Demidov D, Zuo S, Pecinkova J, Mascher M, Ingouff M, Heckmann S, Houben A, Riha K, Lermontova I (2023) High temperature increases centromere-mediated genome elimination frequency and enhances haploid induction in Arabidopsis. Plant Commun 4(3):100507. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100507.
  3. Yalagapati SP, Ahmadli U, Sinha A, Kalidass M, Dabravolski S, Zuo S, Yadala R, Rutten T, Talbert P, Berr A, Lermontova I (2025) Centromeric localization of alphaKNL2 and CENP-C proteins in plants depends on their centromere-targeting domain and DNA-binding regions. Nucleic Acids Res 53(4). doi: 10.1093/nar/gkae1242.
  4. Kalidass M, Jarubula VG, Ratnikava M, Chandra JR, Le Goff S, Probst AV, Esposito S, Grasser KD, Bruckmann A, Gagneux JF, Prosee RF, Rutten T, Schubert V, Demidov D, Lechner E, Steiner FA, Genschik P, Lermontova I (2025) Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of KNL2 driven by APC/CCDC20 is critical for centromere integrity and mitotic fidelity. Plant Cell 37(7). doi: 10.1093/plcell/koaf164.
  5. Kalidass M, Vaculikova J, Chandra JR, Kralova B, Jarubula VG, Kara Ozturk SD, Demidov D, Schubert V, Potesil D, Palecek JJ, Lermontova I (2026) The C-terminal SUMOylation-dependent regulation of alphaKNL2 governs its centromere targeting and interaction with CENH3. Plant Commun 7(2):101617. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101617.
Dr. Inna Lermontova
Dr. Inna Lermontova

Telephone+49 39482 5570

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Kinetochore Biology
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)

https://www.ipk-gatersleben.de/en/research/breeding-research/kinetochore-biology