Epigenetically induced paucity of histone H2A.Z stabilizes fission-yeast ectopic centromeres

Centromere identity is conferred epigenetically by incorporation of the histone H3 variant CENP-A. A new study shows that incorporation of histone H2A variant H2A.Z prevents ectopic stabilization of neocentromeres in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, suggesting that de novo establishment of centromeres is also epigenetically controlled.