CENP-A (CENPA) Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

Centromeres are the differentiated chromosomal domains that specify the mitotic behavior of chromosomes. CENPA encodes a centromere protein which contains a histone H3 related histone fold domain that is required for targeting to the centromere. CENPA is proposed to be a component of a modified nucleosome or nucleosome-like structure in which it replaces 1 or both copies of conventional histone H3 in the (H3-H4)2 tetrameric core of the nucleosome particle. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

CENPA: a basic nuclear protein of the histone H3 family. May act as a core histone necessary for the assembly of centromeres. Contains a histone H3 related histone fold domain that is required for targeting to the centromere. CENPA is proposed to be a component of a modified nucleosome or nucleosome-like structure in which it replaces 1 or both copies of conventional histone H3 in the (H3-H4)2 tetrameric core of the nucleosome particle.

Protein type: DNA-binding

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 2p23.3

Cellular Component: nucleoplasm; inner kinetochore of condensed chromosome; nucleosome; nucleus; cytosol; condensed nuclear chromosome, pericentric region; chromosome, pericentric region

Molecular Function: protein binding; DNA binding; protein heterodimerization activity; chromatin binding

Biological Process: nucleosome assembly; kinetochore assembly; DNA replication-independent nucleosome assembly at centromere; establishment of mitotic spindle orientation; viral reproduction; mitotic cell cycle