title: Transcription within a functional human centromere.
abstract: Recent data in yeast and Drosophila suggest a domain-like centromere structure with a modified chromatin core and flanking regions of heterochromatin. We have analyzed a functional human centromere and defined a region of increased chromosome scaffold/matrix attachment that overlaps three other distinct and nonoverlapping domains for constitutive centromere proteins CENP-A and CENP-H, and heterochromatin protein HP1. Transcriptional competency is intact throughout the S/MAR-enriched region and within the CENP-A- and CENP-H-associated chromatin. These results provide insights into the relationship between centromeric chromatin and transcriptional competency in vivo, highlighting the permissibility of transcription within the constitutively modified, nonheterochromatic chromatin of a functional eukaryotic centromere.
authors.affiliation: The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Melbourne, 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saffery
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sumer
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Lee H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Todokoro
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: K H Andy
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Choo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens; D002503:Centromere / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004330:Drosophila; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; C121933:CENPH protein, human; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C496487:HNF1A protein, human; C496495:HNF1B protein, human; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D006570:Heterochromatin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051537:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1; D051539:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta