Association of M18BP1/KNL2 with CENP-A Nucleosome Is Essential for Centromere Formation in Non-mammalian Vertebrates

Publication date: 24 July 2017
Source:Developmental Cell, Volume 42, Issue 2
Author(s): Tetsuya Hori, Wei-Hao Shang, Masatoshi Hara, Mariko Ariyoshi, Yasuhiro Arimura, Risa Fujita, Hitoshi Kurumizaka, Tatsuo Fukagawa
Centromeres are specified and maintained by sequence-independent epigenetic mechanisms through the incorporation of CENP-A into centromeres. Given that CENP-A incorporation requires the Mis18 complex to be in the centromere region, it is necessary to precisely understand how the Mis18 complex localizes to the centromere region. Here, we showed that centromere localization of the Mis18 complex depends on CENP-A, but not CENP-C or CENP-T, in chicken DT40 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that M18BP1/KNL2, a member of the Mis18 complex, contained the CENP-C-like motif in chicken and other vertebrates, which is essential for centromere localization and M18BP1/KNL2 function in DT40 cells. We also showed that in vitro reconstituted CENP-A nucleosome, but not H3 nucleosome, bound to the CENP-C-like motif containing M18BP1/KNL2. Based on these results, we conclude that M18BP1/KNL2 is essential for centromere formation through direct binding to CENP-A nucleosome in non-mammalian vertebrates. This explains how new CENP-A recognizes the centromere position.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Centromeres are specified and maintained by the incorporation of the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Hori at al. provide insight into how new CENP-A recognizes the centromere position in non-mammalian vertebrates and demonstrate that the association of M18BP1/KNL2, a Mis18 complex component, with CENP-A nucleosome is essential for centromere formation.


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