title: The domain structure of centromeres is conserved from fission yeast to humans.
abstract: The centromeric DNA of fission yeast is arranged with a central core flanked by repeated sequences. The centromere-associated proteins, Mis6p and Cnp1p (SpCENP-A), associate exclusively with central core DNA, whereas the Swi6 protein binds the surrounding repeats. Here, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence light microscopy reveal that the central core and flanking regions occupy distinct positions within a heterochromatic domain. An "anchor" structure containing the Ndc80 protein resides between this heterochromatic domain and the spindle pole body. The organization of centromere-associated proteins in fission yeast is reminiscent of the multilayered structures of human kinetochores, indicating that such domain structure is conserved in eukaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences Novum/University College Sodertorn, Department of Natural Sciences, S-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kniola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mellone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allshire
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mengarelli
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hultenby
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ekwall
mesh_terms: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002503:Centromere / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D018386:Kinetochores; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C410349:Cnp1 protein, S pombe; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; C107314:Mis6 protein, S pombe; C112472:NDC80 protein, S cerevisiae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C075111:SWI6 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors