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Genome-wide analysis reveals a cell cycle–dependent mechanism controlling centromere propagation
Correspondence to Aaron F. Straight: astraigh{at}stanford.edu
Centromeres are the structural and functional foundation for kinetochore formation, spindle attachment, and chromosome segregation. In this study, we isolated factors required for centromere propagation using genome-wide RNA interference screening for defects in centromere protein A (CENP-A; centromere identifier [CID]) localization in Drosophila melanogaster. We identified the proteins CAL1 and CENP-C as essential factors for CID assembly at the centromere. CID, CAL1, and CENP-C coimmunoprecipitate and are mutually dependent for centromere localization and function. We also identified the mitotic cyclin A (CYCA) and the anaphase-promoting complex (APC) inhibitor RCA1/Emi1 as regulators of centromere propagation. We show that CYCA is centromere localized and that CYCA and RCA1/Emi1 couple centromere assembly to the cell cycle through regulation of the fizzy-related/CDH1 subunit of the APC. Our findings identify essential components of the epigenetic machinery that ensures proper specification and propagation of the centromere and suggest a mechanism for coordinating centromere inheritance with cell division.
B.G. Mellone's present address is Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269.
Abbreviations used in this paper: APC, anaphase-promoting complex; β-ME, β-mercaptoethanol; BTP, bromothenylpteridine; CENP, centromere protein; CID, centromere identifier; CLD, CID localization deficient; CYCA, cyclin A; DOTAP, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane; dsRNA, double-stranded RNA; FZR, FZY related; FZY, fizzy; IF, immunofluorescence; LAP, localization and purification; LPC, leupeptin, pepstatin, and chymostatin; Rod, rough deal; TMR*, tetramethyl rhodamine*.
© 2008 Erhardt et al. This article is distributed under the terms of an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike–No Mirror Sites license for the first six months after the publication date (see http://www.jcb.org/misc/terms.shtml). After six months it is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported license, as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).
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