title: Nucleosomal composition at the centromere: a numbers game.
abstract: The Centromere is a unique chromosomal locus where the kinetochore is formed to mediate faithful chromosome partitioning, thus maintaining ploidy during cell division. Centromere identity is inherited via an epigenetic mechanism involving a histone H3 variant, called centromere protein A (CENP-A) which replaces H3 in centromeric chromatin. In spite of extensive efforts in field of centromere biology during the past decade, controversy persists over the structural nature of the CENP-A-containing epigenetic mark, both at nucleosomal and chromatin levels. Here, we review recent findings and hypotheses regarding the structure of CENP-A-containing complexes.
authors: Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), University of Montreal, Montreal, H3T1J4, QC, Canada.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Padeganeh
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: De Rop
authors: Paul S
authors: PS
authors: Maddox
mesh_terms: D001324:Autoantigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018386:Kinetochores / Q000737:chemistry; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes