1. Structural transitions of centromeric chromatin regulate the cell cycle-dependent recruitment of CENP-N.
- Author
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Junnan Fang, Yuting Liu, Yun Wei, Wenqiang Deng, Zhouliang Yu, Li Huang, Yan Teng, Ting Yao, Qinglong You, Haihe Ruan, Ping Chen, Rui-Ming Xu, and Guohong Li
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CENTROMERE , *HISTONES , *CHROMATIN , *KINETOCHORE , *MAMMALIAN cell cycle , *CELL division - Abstract
Specific recognition of centromere-specific histone variant CENP-A-containing chromatin by CENP-N is an essential process in the assembly of the kinetochore complex at centromeres prior to mammalian cell division. However, the mechanisms of CENP-N recruitment to centromeres/kinetochores remain unknown. Here, we show that a CENP-A-specific RG loop (Arg80/Gly81) plays an essential and dual regulatory role in this process. The RG loop assists the formation of a compact "ladder-like" structure of CENP-A chromatin, concealing the loop and thus impairing its role in recruiting CENP-N. Upon G1/S-phase transition, however, centromeric chromatin switches from the compact to an open state, enabling the now exposed RG loop to recruit CENP-N prior to cell division. Our results provide the first insights into the mechanisms by which the recruitment of CENP-N is regulated by the structural transitions between compaction and relaxation of centromeric chromatin during the cell cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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