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Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

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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...
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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...
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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.
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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.
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Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
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Remarkable Evolutionary Plasticity of Centromeric Chromatin.

Steven Henikoff1,2, Jitendra Thakur1,2, Sivakanthan Kasinathan2,3

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109.

Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
|December 3, 2017
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Summary

Centromere specification remains enigmatic, but the histone variant CENP-A is key. Studies reveal diverse centromeric chromatin architectures across eukaryotes, challenging simple models of chromosome segregation.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Centromeres are crucial for chromosome segregation but their specification mechanisms are poorly understood.
  • The histone variant CENP-A is a conserved hallmark of centromeres, forming their structural foundation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the DNA sequence requirements for centromere specification.
  • To explore the diversity of centromeric chromatin properties across different eukaryotic species.

Main Methods:

  • Application of various epigenomic approaches.
  • Comparative analysis of centromeric chromatin structures in diverse organisms.

Main Results:

  • Discovered significant diversity in centromeric chromatin, from yeast point centromeres to fission yeast regional centromeres.
  • Observed varying CENP-A nucleosome organization in *C. elegans*, holocentric insects, and human α-satellite centromeres.
  • Highlighted precise positioning of CENP-A over repeats in plants and animals, contrasting with human α-satellite variability.

Conclusions:

  • Centromeric chromatin architectures exhibit extraordinary evolutionary diversity.
  • This diversity can be explained by the balance between chromosome segregation and selfish DNA elements.