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Heterochromatin and RNAi Are Required to Establish CENP-A Chromatin at Centromeres

Area: RNA
A research team from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK) recently discovered that the RNA interference (RNAi) orchestrated heterochromatin that flanks the central kinetochore domain at fission yeast centromeres. This is required to promote CENP-ACNP1 and kinetochore assembly over the central domain. Heterochromatin is tightly packed chromosomal DNA and usually genetically inactive. It is defined by modifications on histones happening after translation, such as methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9). The methylation enables heterochromatin protein 1-related chromodomain proteins to bind. Heterochromatin is often localised close to CENP-A chromatin, the key determinant of kinetochore assembly.

Three factors are required to establish CENP-ACNP1 chromatin on naïve templates: the H3K9 methyltransferase Suv39 (Clr4), the ribonuclease Dicer Chp1, cleaving heterochromatic double-stranded RNA to small interfering RNA (siRNA) and Swi6 (HP1). Once assembled, CENP-ACNP1 chromatin proliferates epigenetically in the absence of heterochromatin.

Related antibodies on antibodies-online.com:

Histone H3 methylated Lysine 9 (H3K9) Lys9 = K9

CENP-A

CNP

SUV39H1

SUV39H2

Swi6

Histone H3 Dimethyl Lys9
Histone H3 Trimethyl Lys9
Histone H3 acetyl Lys9

Kinetochores

Antibodies for the research area DNA/RNA: »Show antibodies

31.03.2008  |  Anna Lena Marwedel      RSS Feed  Research News


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