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Related Concept Videos

Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...
Chromosome Structure02:40

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
Euchromatin01:01

Euchromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
05:35

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

Epigenetic specification of centromeres.

Yamini Dalal1

  • 1Chromatin Structure and Epigenetic Mechanisms Unit, Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. dalaly@mail.nih.gov

Biochemistry and Cell Biology = Biochimie Et Biologie Cellulaire
|February 24, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Centromeres, crucial for chromosome segregation, are epigenetically maintained by specialized chromatin. New research reveals how the histone variant CenH3 is assembled and structured, shifting our understanding of centromere identity and integrity.

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Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)
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Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Chromatin Biology

Background:

  • Centromeres are essential chromosomal regions for spindle microtubule attachment during cell division.
  • Centromeric identity in metazoans is epigenetically determined, not by DNA sequence.
  • The centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CenH3, is a key component of centromeric chromatin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding centromere establishment and maintenance.
  • To highlight new findings on CenH3 assembly, structure, and function.
  • To explore the role of transcription and heterochromatin in centromere integrity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature and experimental findings.
  • Analysis of studies investigating CenH3 nucleosome structure and chromatin folding.
  • Examination of research on epigenetic regulation of centromeres.

Main Results:

  • A paradigm shift in understanding CenH3 assembly into centromeric chromatin.
  • New insights into CenH3 nucleosomal structure and its contribution to centromeric identity.
  • Demonstration of the critical role of cell-cycle-regulated transcription and pericentric heterochromatin in centromere maintenance.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly involving CenH3, are central to centromere identity and function.
  • Understanding CenH3 dynamics and chromatin organization is key to deciphering centromere biology.
  • Pericentric heterochromatin and transcription regulation are vital for maintaining centromere integrity.