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Histone Variants at the Centromere

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 Structure

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
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Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

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...

Centrosome Duplication

Centrosome Duplication

The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
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Centrosome Duplication

Centrosome Duplication

The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

Centromere identity, function, and epigenetic propagation across cell divisions.

B E Black¹, L E T Jansen, D R Foltz

¹Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6059, USA. blackbe@mail.med.upenn.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology

|April 7, 2011

Summary

Centromere identity relies on CENP-A chromatin, which epigenetically marks centromere location for chromosome inheritance. Understanding how this mark propagates and is recognized is key to genome stability.

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Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)

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Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

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Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)

Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)

Published on: June 10, 2020

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Genetics
Epigenetics

Background:

Centromere identity is crucial for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.
The histone H3 variant CENP-A is the primary candidate for carrying epigenetic information that specifies centromere location.
Fundamental questions remain regarding the propagation and recognition of the epigenetic centromere mark.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the epigenetic mechanisms underlying centromere identity.
To explore the physical properties of CENP-A-containing complexes.
To identify molecules involved in recognizing centromeric chromatin for kinetochore formation.

Main Methods:

Review of recent research advances.
Analysis of CENP-A chromatin properties.
Identification of kinetochore-associated molecules.

Main Results:

Substantial insights into CENP-A's role in epigenetic centromere marking.
Understanding of how centromeric chromatin is recognized.
Progress in identifying foundational molecules for the mitotic kinetochore.

Conclusions:

CENP-A chromatin is central to centromere identity and epigenetic marking.
Further research will elucidate molecular processes ensuring genome transmission fidelity.
Understanding centromere epigenetics is vital for chromosome inheritance.