title: Double-strand DNA breaks recruit the centromeric histone CENP-A.
abstract: The histone H3 variant CENP-A is required for epigenetic specification of centromere identity through a loading mechanism independent of DNA sequence. Using multiphoton absorption and DNA cleavage at unique sites by I-SceI endonuclease, we demonstrate that CENP-A is rapidly recruited to double-strand breaks in DNA, along with three components (CENP-N, CENP-T, and CENP-U) associated with CENP-A at centromeres. The centromere-targeting domain of CENP-A is both necessary and sufficient for recruitment to double-strand breaks. CENP-A accumulation at DNA breaks is enhanced by active non-homologous end-joining but does not require DNA-PKcs or Ligase IV, and is independent of H2AX. Thus, induction of a double-strand break is sufficient to recruit CENP-A in human and mouse cells. Finally, since cell survival after radiation-induced DNA damage correlates with CENP-A expression level, we propose that CENP-A may have a function in DNA repair.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. szeitlin@sciencegeeks.org
authors.forename: Samantha G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zeitlin
authors.forename: Norman M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Chapados
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soutoglou
authors.forename: Jean Y J
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Berns
authors.forename: Don W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cleveland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002460:Cell Line; D002503:Centromere / Q000378:metabolism; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; C000619701:Cenpa protein, mouse; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific