Centromeric localization of αKNL2 and CENP-C proteins in plants depends on their centromere-targeting domain and DNA-binding regions.

ABSTRACT: In eukaryotes, accurate chromosome segregation during cell division relies on the centromeric histone H3 variant, CENH3. Our previous work identified KINETOCHORE NULL2 (αKNL2) as a plant CENH3 assembly factor, which contains a centromere-targeting motif, CENPC-k, analogous to the CENPC motif found in CENP-C. We also demonstrated that αKNL2 can bind DNA in vitro in a sequence-independent manner, without the involvement of its CENPC-k motif. In this study, we show that the CENPC-k and CENPC motifs alone are insufficient for centromere targeting in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. In silico analysis identified adjacent DNA-binding regions near the CENPC-k and CENPC motifs, suggesting their role in centromeric DNA interaction. We further demonstrated that protein fragments conta

SUBMITTER: Yalagapati SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879092 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature