The centromere is a complex structure, the components and assembly pathway of which remain inadequately defined. Here, we demonstrate that centromeric ␣-satellite RNA and proteins CENPC1 and INCENP accumulate in the human interphase nucleolus in an RNA polymerase I-dependent manner. The nucleolar targeting of CENPC1 and INCENP requires ␣-satellite RNA, as evident from the delocalization of both proteins from the nucleolus in RNase-treated cells, and the nucleolar relocalization of these proteins following ␣-satellite RNA replenishment in these cells. Using protein truncation and in vitro mutagenesis, we have identified the nucleolar localization sequences on CENPC1 and INCENP. We present evidence that CENPC1 is an RNA-associating protein that binds ␣-satellite RNA by an in vitro binding assay. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNase treatment, and "RNA replenishment" experiments, we show that ␣-satellite RNA is a key component in the assembly of CENPC1, INCENP, and survivin (an INCENP-interacting protein) at the metaphase centromere. Our data suggest that centromere satellite RNA directly facilitates the accumulation and assembly of centromere-specific nucleoprotein components at the nucleolus and mitotic centromere, and that the sequestration of these components in the interphase nucleolus provides a regulatory mechanism for their timely release into the nucleoplasm for kinetochore assembly at the onset of mitosis.[Supplemental material is available online at www.genome.org.]The centromere is a specialized structure on chromosomes for microtubule attachment to ensure the equal partitioning of chromosomes during cell division. This structure comprises two defined domains: the central core for the assembly of the kinetochore and the flanking pericentric heterochromatin for centromere cohesion. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the outer centromeric repeat sequences give rise to small interfering RNAs (siRNA) that participate in chromatin repression (Volpe et al. 2002). The depletion of Dicer (a nuclease required for the processing of siRNAs) in a chicken cell line leads to the disruption of heterochromatin assembly and cohesion (Fukagawa et al. 2004). However, Dicer depletion has no observable effect on the binding of the core kinetochore proteins CENPA and CENPC1 (Fukagawa et al. 2004), indicating that while the evolutionarily conserved RNA interference (RNAi) machinery is crucial for the establishment of the pericentric heterochromatin, it may not be essential for the core kinetochore region. A recent study in maize has further described the association of single-stranded centromeric transposable element and repeat RNA with the core kinetochore complex that is distinct from those at pericentric heterochromatin (Topp et al. 2004); however, the functional significance of the observed centromere RNA transcripts is unclear. Furthermore, little is known about the subnuclear distribution of centromere RNA, and the pathway and significance, if any, of such RNA in kinetochore formation and function.The nucleolus is a sp...

We have previously identified and characterized the phenomenon of ectopic human centromeres, known as neocentromeres. Human neocentromeres form epigenetically at euchromatic chromosomal sites and are structurally and functionally similar to normal human centromeres. Recent studies have indicated that neocentromere formation provides a major mechanism for centromere repositioning, karyotype evolution, and speciation. Using a marker chromosome mardel(10) containing a neocentromere formed at the normal chromosomal 10q25 region, we have previously mapped a 330-kb CENP-A–binding domain and described an increased prevalence of L1 retrotransposons in the underlying DNA sequences of the CENP-A–binding clusters. Here, we investigated the potential role of the L1 retrotransposons in the regulation of neocentromere activity. Determination of the transcriptional activity of a panel of full-length L1s (FL-L1s) across a 6-Mb region spanning the 10q25 neocentromere chromatin identified one of the FL-L1 retrotransposons, designated FL-L1b and residing centrally within the CENP-A–binding clusters, to be transcriptionally active. We demonstrated the direct incorporation of the FL-L1b RNA transcripts into the CENP-A–associated chromatin. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the FL-L1b RNA transcripts led to a reduction in CENP-A binding and an impaired mitotic function of the 10q25 neocentromere. These results indicate that LINE retrotransposon RNA is a previously undescribed essential structural and functional component of the neocentromeric chromatin and that retrotransposable elements may serve as a critical epigenetic determinant in the chromatin remodelling events leading to neocentromere formation.

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (MIM #176270; PWS) is caused by lack of the paternally-derived copies, or their expression, of multiple genes in a 4 Mb region on chromosome 15q11.2. Known mechanisms include large deletions, maternal uniparental disomy or mutations involving the imprinting center. De novo balanced reciprocal translocations in 5 reported individuals had breakpoints clustering in SNRPN intron 2 or exon 20/intron 20. To further dissect the PWS phenotype and define the minimal critical region for PWS features, we have studied a 22 year old male with a milder PWS phenotype and a de novo translocation t(4;15)(q27;q11.2).