At the right place at the right time: novel CENP-A binding proteins shed light on centromere assembly.
Centromeres, the chromosomal loci that form the sites of attachment for spindle microtubules during mitosis, are identified by a unique chromatin structure generated by nucleosomes containing the histone H3 variant CENP-A. The apparent epigenetic mode of centromere inheritance across mitotic and meiotic divisions has generated much interest in how CENP-A assembly occurs and how structurally divergent centromeric nucleosomes can specify the centromere complex. Although a substantial number of proteins have been implicated in centromere assembly, factors that can bind CENP-A specifically and deliver nascent protein to the centromere were, thus far, lacking. Several recent reports on experiments in fission yeast and human cells have now shown significant progress on this problem. Here, we discuss these new developments and their implications for epigenetic centromere inheritance.
Silva
Mariana C C
MC
Laboratory for Epigenetic Mechanisms, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.
Jansen
Lars E T
LE
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin / Q000502:physiology; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C502942:MIS18A protein, human; C539322:Mis16 protein, S pombe; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C539321:Scm3 protein, S pombe