Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
05:35
Immunofluorescence Analysis of Endogenous and Exogenous Centromere-kinetochore Proteins
Published on: March 3, 2016
A novel epigenetic effect can alter centromere function in fission yeast
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106.
Cell
|December 2, 1994
Summary
Scientists discovered a new epigenetic mechanism in S. pombe that activates nonfunctional centromeres. This epigenetic system converts inactive centromeres to active ones without altering DNA, offering a new assay for centromere formation.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Chromatin Biology
Background:
- Centromeres are crucial for chromosome segregation during cell division.
- Minichromosomes in S. pombe provide a model system to study centromere function.
- Epigenetic regulation plays a significant role in gene expression and genome stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel epigenetic mechanisms regulating centromere function in vivo.
- To investigate the conversion of nonfunctional centromeres to functional ones.
- To explore the role of chromatin structure in centromere activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized S. pombe as a model organism.
- Studied minichromosomes with abbreviated centromeric DNA constructions.
- Observed centromere activity during mitotic cell divisions.
- Analyzed epigenetic modifications and chromatin structure.
Main Results:
- Identified a novel epigenetic mechanism that activates nonfunctional centromeres.
- Demonstrated centromere conversion without changes in DNA content or modification.
- Observed high-frequency conversion during mitosis, providing an in vivo assay.
- Supported a model involving de novo folding of centromeric components into higher-order chromatin structures.
Conclusions:
- A novel epigenetic system in S. pombe regulates centromere function.
- This system can convert inactive centromeres to active states via chromatin remodeling.
- The findings offer insights into centromere formation and epigenetic inheritance.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Histone 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...
03:17Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
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 DNA...
02:25Centrosome 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...
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
02:25Centrosome 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...
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.