Histone H3-like variant which exclusively replaces conventional H3 in the nucleosome core of centromeric chromatin at the inner plate of the kinetochore. Required for recruitment and assbly of kinetochore proteins, mitotic progression and chromosome segregation. May serve as an epigenetic mark that propagates centromere identity through replication and cell division. The CENPA-H4 heterotetramer can bind DNA by itself (in vitro) .
Gene structure and sequence analysis of mouse centromere proteins A and C.Kalitsis P., Macdonald A.C., Newson A.J., Hudson D.F., Choo K.H.A.Genomics 47:108-114(1998)
Research Topic:Others