title: Centromere dynamics.
abstract: At the foundation of all eukaryotic kinetochores is a unique histone variant, known as CenH3 (centromere histone H3). We are starting to identify the histone chaperones responsible for CenH3 deposition at centromere DNA, and the mechanisms that restrict CenH3 from chromosome arms. The specialized nucleosome that contains CenH3 in place of canonical histone H3 lies at the interface between microtubules and chromosomes and directs kinetochore protein assembly. By contrast, pericentric chromatin is highly elastic and can stretch or recoil in response to microtubule shortening or growth in mitosis. The variety in histone modification is likely to play a key role in regulating the behavior of these distinct chromatin domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA. kerry_bloom@unc.edu
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097722:Cohesins
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D000097722:Cohesins