Heterochromatin boundaries maintain centromere position, size and number

ABSTRACT: Centromeres are chromosomal loci that ensure proper chromosome segregation, defined by a unique single chromatin domain featuring the histone H3 variant, Centromere Protein A (CENP-A). Centromeric chromatin typically occupies a small subregion of low DNA methylation within multi-megabase arrays of hypermethylated alpha-satellite repeats and constitutive pericentric heterochromatin. Here, we define the molecular basis for heterochromatin as the primary driver of centromere and neocentromere position, size and number. Using single-molecule epigenomics, we uncover roles for H3K9me3 methyltransferases SUV39H1/H2 and SETDB1, in addition to non-canonical roles for SUZ12 in maintaining H3K9me3 boundaries at centromeres. Loss of these heterochromatin boundaries leads to the progressive expansion a

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens (human)

SUBMITTER:  

PROVIDER: S-BSST1935 | biostudies-other |

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJEB85119

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other