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Involvement of Cenp-F in interphase chromatin organization possibly through association with DNA-dependent protein

Juan Du1, Yirong Zhang, Yan Liu

  • 1Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Acta Biochimica Et Biophysica Sinica
|October 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Centromere protein F (Cenp-F) binding to DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) influences interphase chromatin organization. Overexpression of Cenp-F mutants induces chromatin aggregation, suggesting a regulatory role.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Centromere protein F (Cenp-F), also known as mitosin, is a significant 350-kDa human kinetochore protein crucial for mitotic progression.
  • Cenp-F also functions as a nuclear matrix protein in interphase cells, indicating roles beyond mitosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Cenp-F in the organization of interphase chromatin.
  • To explore the association of Cenp-F with chromatin and its potential regulatory partners.

Main Methods:

  • Overexpression of N-terminal deletion mutants of Cenp-F.
  • In situ hybridization with whole chromosome painting probes.
  • Assessment of Cenp-F association with DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK).

Main Results:

  • Overexpression of Cenp-F mutants induced chromatin condensation into aggregates in interphase nuclei.
  • These aggregates were confirmed not to be prematurely condensed chromosomes or apoptotic bodies.
  • Cenp-F demonstrated association with specific regions of interphase chromatin fibers and with DNA-PK.

Conclusions:

  • Cenp-F's ability to induce chromatin aggregation correlated with its DNA-PK association activity.
  • These findings suggest Cenp-F plays a role in organizing interphase chromatin, potentially by associating with and regulating DNA-PK.

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