title: Epigenetic regulation of centromere formation and kinetochore function.
abstract: In the midst of an increasingly detailed understanding of the molecular basis of genome regulation, we still only vaguely understand the relationship between molecular biochemistry and the structure of the chromatin inside of cells. The centromere is a structurally and functionally unique region of each chromosome and provides an example in which the molecular understanding far exceeds the understanding of the structure and function relationships that emerge on the chromosomal scale. The centromere is located at the primary constriction of the chromosome. During entry into mitosis, the centromere specifies the assembly site of the kinetochore, the structure that binds to microtubules to enable transport of the chromosomes into daughter cells. The epigenetic contributions to the molecular organization and function of the centromere are reviewed in the context of structural mechanisms of chromatin function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heit
authors.forename: D Alan
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Underhill
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hendzel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000502:physiology; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins