Journal of Cell Science 109, 2199-2206 (1996) 2199 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1996 JCS3386 Epigenetic control of mammalian centromere protein binding: does DNA methylation have a role? Arthur R. Mitchell*, Peter Jeppesen, Linda Nicol†, Harris Morrison and David Kipling MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK *Author for correspondence (internet
[email protected]) †Present address: MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh, UK SUMMARY Chromosome 1 of the inbred mouse strain DBA/2 has a block of minor satellite DNA sequences on chromosome 1. polymorphism associated with the minor satellite DNA at The binding of the CENP-E protein does not appear to be its centromere. The more terminal block of satellite DNA affected by demethylation of the minor satellite sequences. sequences on this chromosome acts as the centromere as We present a model to explain these observations. This shown by the binding of CREST ACA serum, anti-CENP- model may also indicate the mechanism by which the B and anti-CENP-E polyclonal sera. Demethylation of the CENP-B protein recognises specific sites within the arrays minor satellite DNA sequences accomplished by growing of minor satellite DNA on mouse chromosomes. cells in the presence of the drug 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine results in a redistribution of the CENP-B protein. This protein now binds to an enlarged area on the more terminal Key words: Centromere satellite DNA, Demethylation, Centromere block and in addition it now binds to the more internal antibody INTRODUCTION A common feature of many mammalian pericentromeric domains is that they contain families of repetitive DNA The centromere of mammalian chromosomes is recognised at sequences (Singer, 1982).