Regulation of X. laevis M18BP1 centromeric localization and CENP-A assembly

Eukaryotic chromosome segregation requires attachment of chromosomes to microtubules of the mitotic spindle through the kinetochore so that chromosomes can align and move in mitosis. Kinetochores are assembled on the centromere which is a unique chromatin domain that is epigenetically defined by the histone H3 variant CENtromere Protein A (CENP-A). During DNA replication CENP-A is equally divided between replicated chromatids and new CENP-A nucleosomes are re-assembled during the subsequent G1 phase of the cell cycle. How cells regulate the strict cell cycle timing of CENP-A assembly is a central question in the epigenetic maintenance of centromeres and kinetochores. One essential assembly factor for CENP-A nucleosomes is the Mis18 complex (Mis18α, Mis18β, and M18BP1) which is regulated in its localization to centromeres between metaphase and G1 when CENP-A assembly occurs. Here, we define a new regulatory mechanism that works through cell cycle dependent phosphorylation of Xenopus laevis M18BP1 between metaphase and interphase. This phosphoregulatory switch disrupts binding of M18BP1 to CENP-A nucleosomes in metaphase, and when relieved enables M18BP1 binding to CENP-A nucleosomes in interphase. We show that this phosphorylation dependent switching mechanism regulates CENP-A nucleosome assembly. We propose that the phospho-regulated binding of M18BP1 to CENP-A nucleosomes is an important control mechanism that restricts the timing of new CENP-A assembly.