Epigenetic regulation of centromere function
- 1 August 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
- Vol. 77 (15), 2899-2917
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-020-03460-8
Abstract
The centromere is a specialized region on the chromosome that directs equal chromosome segregation. Centromeres are usually not defined by DNA sequences alone. How centromere formation and function are determined by epigenetics is still not fully understood. Active centromeres are often marked by the presence of centromeric-specific histone H3 variant, centromere protein A (CENP-A). How CENP-A is assembled into the centromeric chromatin during the cell cycle and propagated to the next cell cycle or the next generation to maintain the centromere function has been intensively investigated. In this review, we summarize current understanding of how post-translational modifications of CENP-A and other centromere proteins, centromeric and pericentric histone modifications, non-coding transcription and transcripts contribute to centromere function, and discuss their intricate relationships and potential feedback mechanisms.Keywords
Funding Information
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (General Research Fund: 17126717, Collaborative Research Fund: C705818GF)
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (Genearl Research Fund: 17113418)
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