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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...

Heterochromatin

Heterochromatin

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.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...

The Nucleosome

The Nucleosome

Human DNA is almost two meters long. However, it is compressed inside a tiny nucleus measuring only a few microns in diameter. To make this degree of compaction possible, DNA is organized into several sequential levels so that it can fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
In a chromosome, DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called a histone octamer core, which consists of 8 histone proteins. This...

Histone Modification

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...

Chromosome Structure

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...

The Nucleosome Core Particle

The Nucleosome Core Particle

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

Published on: March 3, 2016

Linker Histone H1.5 Contributes to Centromere Integrity in Human Cells.

Ankita Saha¹, Minh Bui¹, Daniël P Melters¹

¹National Cancer Institute, Centre for Cancer Research, Laboratory Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|June 26, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Histone H1.5 binds centromeric protein A (CENP-A) nucleosomes, impacting centromeric transcription and mitotic integrity. This study reveals a novel role for histone H1 in regulating cell division.

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Expression Analysis of Mammalian Linker-histone Subtypes

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Last Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins

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Published on: March 3, 2016

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

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Published on: June 10, 2020

Expression Analysis of Mammalian Linker-histone Subtypes

Expression Analysis of Mammalian Linker-histone Subtypes

Published on: March 19, 2012

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Epigenetics
Cell Biology

Background:

Mammalian linker histones (H1 variants) modulate chromatin structure and gene expression.
The precise role of H1 histones at centromeres remains controversial.
Centromeric chromatin is crucial for chromosome segregation during cell division.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interaction of H1 histone variants with centromeric chromatin.
To determine the functional significance of H1.5 at the centromere.
To elucidate the role of H1 histones in maintaining mitotic integrity.

Main Methods:

In vitro binding assays using purified proteins.
Chromatin immunoprecipitation in human cells.
RNA sequencing to assess centromeric transcription.
Analysis of mitotic defects and CENP-A loading.

Main Results:

Histone H1.5 directly interacts with CENP-A nucleosomes in vitro.
H1.0 and H1.2 also bind CENP-A nucleosomes with varying affinities.
H1.5 localizes to centromeres in human cells and interacts with CENP-A nucleosomes.
H1.5 depletion disrupts centromeric transcription, reduces CENP-A loading, and causes mitotic defects.

Conclusions:

Histone H1.5 plays a critical role in centromeric chromatin regulation.
H1 histone variants can interact with CENP-A nucleosomes, suggesting broader roles.
Histone H1 is essential for maintaining mitotic integrity in human cells.