Cancer-upregulated gene 2 (CUG2), a new component of centromere complex, is required for kinetochore function.
We previously identified cancer-upregulated gene 2 (CUG2) as a commonly up-regulated gene in various human cancer tissues, especially in ovary, liver, and lung (Lee et al., 2007a). CUG2 was determined to be a nuclear protein that exhibited high proto-oncogenic activities when overexpressed in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. To identify other cellular functions of CUG2, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and identified CENP-T, a component of CENP-A nucleosome complex in the centromere, as an interacting partner of CUG2. Moreover, CENP-A, the principle centromeric determinant, was also found in complex with CENP-T/CUG2. Immunofluorescent staining revealed the co-localization of CUG2 with human centromeric markers. Inhibition of CUG2 expression drastically affected cell viability by inducing aberrant cell division. We propose that CUG2 is a new component of the human centromeric complex that is required for proper chromosome segregation during mitosis.
Kim
Hyejin
H
Department of Microbiology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Lee
Miae
M
Lee
Sunhee
S
Park
Byoungwoo
B
Koh
Wansoo
W
Lee
Dong Jun
DJ
Lim
Dae-Sik
DS
Lee
Soojin
S
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism
D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; C534001:CENPT protein, human; C534000:CENPW protein, human; C000619701:Cenpa protein, mouse; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering