Centromeric protein B null mice are viable with no apparent abnormalities.
The centromere protein B (CENP-B) is a centromeric DNA/binding protein. It recognizes a 17-bp sequence motif called the CENP-B box, which is found in the centromeric region of most chromosomes. It binds DNA through its amino terminus and dimerizes through its carboxy terminus. CENP-B protein has been proposed to perform a vital role in organizing chromatin structures at centromeres. However, other evidence does not agree with this view. For example, CENP-B is found at inactive centromeres on stable dicentric chromosomes, and also mitotically stable chromosomes lacking alpha-satellite DNA have been reported. To address the biological function of CENP-B, we generated mouse null mutants of CENP-B by homologous recombination. Mice lacking CENP-B were viable and fertile, indicating that mice without CENP-B undergo normal somatic and germline development. Thus, both mitosis and meiosis are able to proceed normally in the absence of CENP-B.
Perez-Castro
A V
AV
Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
Shamanski
F L
FL
Meneses
J J
JJ
Lovato
T L
TL
Vogel
K G
KG
Moyzis
R K
RK
Pedersen
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens; D002460:Cell Line; D051936:Centromere Protein B; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D005328:Fetal Viability / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology
D001324:Autoantigens; C497927:Cenpb protein, mouse; D051936:Centromere Protein B; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger