CENPA

3AN2, 3NQJ, 3NQU, 3R45, 3WTP, 5CVD105812615ENSG00000115163ENSMUSG00000029177P49450O35216NM_001809NM_001042426NM_007681NM_001302129NM_001302130NM_001302131NM_001302132NP_001035891NP_001800NP_001289058NP_001289059NP_001289060NP_001289061NP_031707Centromere protein A, also known as CENPA, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CENPA gene. Centromere protein A, also known as CENPA, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CENPA gene. Centromeres are the chromosomal domains that specify the mitotic behavior of chromosomes. The CENPA gene encodes a centromere protein which contains a histone H3 related histone fold domain that is required for targeting to the centromere. CENPA is proposed to be a component of a modified nucleosome or nucleosome-like structure in which it replaces 1 or both copies of conventional histone H3 in the (H3-H4)2 tetrameric core of the nucleosome particle. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. In higher eukaryotes, the recruitment of CENP-A nucleosomes to existing centromeres is an epigenetic process, independent of the underlying DNA sequence. In S. pombe, de novo recruitment of the CENP-A to the centromere is believed to be controlled by 'centromeric' heterochromatin surrounding the centromere, and by an RNAi mechanism. The RNAi is cut to form siRNA; this complexes with the protein Chp1, which then binds the centromeric heterochromatin. This helps recruit other proteins, ultimately resulting in a protein complex that forms cohesin between two sister chromatids at the centromeric heterochromatin. This cohesin is believed to be essential in replacing the centromere H3 with CENP-A. CENP-A is one of the epigenetic changes that is believed to distinguish centromeric DNA from other DNA. Once the CENP-A has been added, the centromere becomes self-propagating, and the surrounding heterochromatin/RNAi mechanism is no longer necessary.