Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
Published on: March 3, 2016
Marking dad's centromeres: maintaining CENP-A in sperm
Miriama Štiavnická1, Rachel S Keegan1, Elaine M Dunleavy2
1Centre for Chromosome Biology, Biomedical Science Building, University of Galway, Galway, H91W2TY, Ireland.
Abstract:
During spermiogenesis, histones are removed from most genomic loci and are replaced by protamines in mature sperm nuclei. Yet, centromeres appear resistant to this process. We review the experimental evidence that the centromeric histone CENP-A is maintained in mature sperm nuclei, comparing human, bovine, mouse and fly species. We also recall how the detection of centromeres in mature sperm nuclei in the 1990's contributed to the isolation of the CENP-A protein and the eventual cloning of the human CENP-A gene. Further, based on more recent genetic studies carried out in flies and in mice, we discuss the inheritance and functional importance of paternal CENP-A and how it is complemented by maternal CENP-A to give rise to a healthy embryo. Finally, we raise some unanswered questions regarding the exclusive maintenance of CENP-A on sperm, the organisation of sperm centromeric chromatin and its importance for fertility and early embryo development.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Histone Variants at the Centromere
Centrosome Duplication
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
Centrioles and Centrosomes
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...
The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint
Many proteins function together to control the spindle assembly checkpoint. Mutations affecting these proteins may allow cells to proceed into anaphase prematurely, resulting in the...
Separation of Sister Chromatids
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
Condensins
The plant and animal cells contain two types of condensin complexes—condensin I and condensin II. Both complexes have five subunits: two SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) subunits, a kleisin subunit, and two HEAT-repeat...

