In most eukaryotes, the centromere is defined by epigenetic marks such as the histone H3 variant CENH3/CENP-A/CID. Ectopic induction of kinetochores in Drosophila S2 cells by CID overexpression leads to kinetochore assembly specifically in silent intergenic regions bordering heterochomratin, demonstrating a role for these domains in centromere identity.
- Agata M. Olszak
- Dominic van Essen
- Patrick Heun