Nucleolar activity and CENP-C regulate CENP-A and CAL1 availability for centromere assembly in meiosis.
The centromere-specific histone CENP-A is the key epigenetic determinant of centromere identity. Whereas most histones are removed from mature sperm, CENP-A is retained to mark paternal centromeres. In Drosophila males we show that the centromere assembly factors CAL1 and CENP-C are required for meiotic chromosome segregation, CENP-A assembly and maintenance on sperm, as well as fertility. In meiosis, CENP-A accumulates with CAL1 in nucleoli. Furthermore, we show that CENP-C normally limits the release of CAL1 and CENP-A from nucleoli for proper centromere assembly in meiotic prophase I. Finally, we show that RNA polymerase I transcription is required for efficient CENP-A assembly in meiosis, as well as centromere tethering to nucleoli.
Centre for Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Lucretia
L
Kwenda
Centre for Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Caitriona M
CM
Collins
Centre for Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Anna A
AA
Dattoli
Centre for Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland elaine.dunleavy@nuigalway.ie.
Elaine M
EM
Dunleavy
D000818:Animals; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000502:physiology*; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005298:Fertility; D006657:Histones / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D049469:Meiotic Prophase I; D009154:Mutation; D012318:RNA Polymerase I / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C581136:CENP-C protein, Drosophila; C558282:Cal1 protein, Drosophila; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C427237:Cid protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; D012318:RNA Polymerase I
CENP-A; CID; Centromere; Meiosis; Nucleolus; Spermatogenesis