Neocentromeres not contain endogenous DNA centromeres characteristic , i.e. systems tandem repeat sequence ; Thus, the type of DNA that makes the neocentromerów . Create neocentromerów done by epigenetic mechanisms . It is likely that the center of creating neocentromerów serialized euchromatynowych chromosomes could be mobile elements that frequently occur in eukaryotic genomes and are also present in the right centromere and adjacent to the heterochromatin przycentromerowej .

Heterochromatin fraction called „constitutive” and euchromatin differ in respect of DNA types (tandem repeats vs coding/unique sequences) and in epigenetic modifications, i.e. in methylation of DNA, H3 and H4 histones and in acetylation of the latter two. These modifications result in permanent heterochromatin condensation.