Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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...
Centrosome Duplication02:25

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).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
Centrosome Duplication02:25

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).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
Centrioles and Centrosomes01:13

Centrioles and Centrosomes

Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or "prometaphase,"...
Separation of Sister Chromatids02:17

Separation of Sister Chromatids

At the transition from prophase to metaphase, there is a reduction in cohesion along the chromosomal arms, resulting in the resolution of sister chromatids. However, residual cohesin connections remain to hold the sister chromatids together until the transition from metaphase to anaphase. The residual connection prevents any premature separation of sister chromatids, blocking the risks of aneuploidy within the daughter cells.
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
Separation of Sister Chromatids02:17

Separation of Sister Chromatids

At the transition from prophase to metaphase, there is a reduction in cohesion along the chromosomal arms, resulting in the resolution of sister chromatids. However, residual cohesin connections remain to hold the sister chromatids together until the transition from metaphase to anaphase. The residual connection prevents any premature separation of sister chromatids, blocking the risks of aneuploidy within the daughter cells.
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Haplotype-resolved centromeric chromatin organization from a complete diploid human genome.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Phosphorylation of Xenopus M18BP1 governs centromeric localization and CENP-A nucleosome assembly.

EMBO reports·2026
Same author

Integrated analysis of multimodal long-read epigenetic assays.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Regulation of <i>X. laevis</i> M18BP1 centromeric localization and CENP-A assembly.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Histone H3 lysine methyltransferase activities control compartmentalization of human centromeres.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Identification of chromatin-associated RNAs at human centromeres.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same journal

Addendum: In situ architecture of the human prohibitin complex.

Nature cell biology·2026
Same journal

Evolutionarily conserved short linear motifs drive actin filament binding.

Nature cell biology·2026
Same journal

CD44 restricts EGFR mobility to polarize cytoskeletal signalling modules driving bleb-based migration.

Nature cell biology·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Mitochondrial fission links ECM mechanotransduction to metabolic redox homeostasis and metastatic chemotherapy resistance.

Nature cell biology·2026
Same journal

An atlas of primate insular cortex reveals a signal-processing strategy in von Economo neurons.

Nature cell biology·2026
Same journal

Primate neurons with special signalling logic.

Nature cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 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

Swapping CENP-A at the centromere.

Bradley T French1, Aaron F Straight

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, California 94305-5307, USA.

Nature Cell Biology
|September 4, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Centromere identity relies on the histone variant CENP-A. New research in human cells and fission yeast reveals how CENP-A encodes this identity and uncovers an unexpected role for CENP-B in centromere function.

More Related Videos

Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)
09:02

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

Published on: June 10, 2020

Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System
11:49

Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 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

Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)
09:02

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

Published on: June 10, 2020

Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System
11:49

Generation of Centromere-Associated Protein-E CENP-E-/- Knockout Cell Lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 System

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Faithful genome segregation is crucial for cell viability.
  • The centromere is a specialized region of chromosomes essential for segregation.
  • The histone variant CENP-A (centromere protein A) is a hallmark of centromeres and is critical for their function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the biochemical mechanisms by which CENP-A encodes centromere identity.
  • To investigate the role of CENP-B in centromere function.
  • To understand the fundamental processes of genome segregation in eukaryotes.

Main Methods:

  • Gene replacement strategies were employed in human cells.
  • Similar gene replacement experiments were conducted in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe).
  • Biochemical assays were used to analyze CENP-A function and centromere identity.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated how CENP-A biochemically encodes centromere identity.
  • Revealed an unexpected but significant role for CENP-B in centromere function.
  • Provided new insights into the molecular basis of centromere establishment and maintenance.

Conclusions:

  • CENP-A plays a direct role in biochemically defining centromere identity.
  • CENP-B is not merely a structural component but actively participates in centromere function.
  • These findings advance our understanding of genome stability and chromosome segregation mechanisms.