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| Title | Cryo-EM structures of CENP-A nucleosomes isolated from human cells. |
|---|---|
| Journal, issue, pages | Commun Biol, Vol. 9, Issue 1, Year 2026 |
| Publish date | Sep 29, 2026 |
Authors | Eisho Tanida / Suguru Hatazawa / Takumi Oishi / Yuki Kobayashi / Mitsuo Ogasawara / Marta A Jaskiewicz / Akihito Harada / Takeru Fujii / Yasuyuki Ohkawa / Yoshimasa Takizawa / Hitoshi Kurumizaka / ![]() |
| PubMed Abstract | Centromeres ensure accurate chromosome segregation, and their identity is specified epigenetically by the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Although the structures of reconstituted CENP-A nucleosomes have ...Centromeres ensure accurate chromosome segregation, and their identity is specified epigenetically by the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Although the structures of reconstituted CENP-A nucleosomes have provided important insights, how this epigenetic mark is structurally organized within native chromatin remains incompletely understood. Here, we combine cryogenic electron microscopy with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-CryoEM) to determine the structures of human CENP-A nucleosomes isolated directly from cells without crosslinking or stabilizing agents. We resolved two distinct cellular CENP-A nucleosome structures: a homotypic CENP-A nucleosome and a heterotypic CENP-A/H3 nucleosome, which have been proposed to represent centromeric and ectopic nucleosomes, respectively. Both cellular CENP-A nucleosomes assemble as histone octamers and wrap DNA in a left-handed superhelix, supporting an octameric model proposed for native CENP-A chromatin. In addition, the hallmark CENP-A-specific structural features previously characterized in vitro, including the shortened CENP-A N-terminal α-helix and the distinctive RG loop, are preserved in cellular CENP-A nucleosomes. These findings define the structural organization of CENP-A nucleosomes in cellular chromatin. |
External links | Commun Biol / PubMed:42811066 / PubMed Central |
| Methods | EM (single particle) |
| Resolution | 3.12 - 3.58 Å |
| Structure data | EMDB-67818, PDB-21md: EMDB-67819, PDB-21me: |
| Source |
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Keywords | NUCLEAR PROTEIN / chromatin / mitosis / centromere |
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homo sapiens (human)
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