Chromatin-associated α-satellite RNA maintains chromosome stability by reestablishing SAF-A in the mitotic cell cycle.

ABSTRACT: α-Satellite is the largest class of tandem repeats and is located on all human chromosome centromeres. Non-coding α-satellite RNAs have been observed in various cell types and are known to play crucial roles in maintaining genome stability. In this study, we demonstrated that α-satellite RNAs are dynamically expressed, heterogeneous transcripts that are regulated by Aurora kinases and closely associated with centromere chromatin throughout the mitotic cell cycle. We identified scaffold attachment factor A (SAF-A) as a previously uncharacterized α-satellite RNA binding protein. Depletion of either α-satellite RNA or SAF-A resulted in chromosome missegregation, revealing that their concerted action is essential for preserving genome integrity during the mitotic cell cycle. Our result demonst

SUBMITTER: Ren B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11992673 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature