CENP-A: A Histone H3 Variant with Key Roles in Centromere Architecture in Healthy and Diseased States.

Centromeres are key architectural components of chromosomes. Here, we examine their construction, maintenance, and functionality. Focusing on the mammalian centromere- specific histone H3 variant, CENP-A, we highlight its coevolution with both centromeric DNA and its chaperone, HJURP.

CENP-A Regulation and Cancer.

In mammals, CENP-A, a histone H3 variant found in the centromeric chromatin, is critical for faithful chromosome segregation and genome integrity maintenance through cell divisions. Specifically, it has dual functions, enabling to define epigenetically the centromere position and providing the foundation for building up the kinetochore. Regulation of its dynamics of synthesis and deposition ensures to propagate proper centromeres on each chromosome across mitosis and meiosis.

Structural insights into TAZ2 domain-mediated CBP/p300 recruitment by transactivation domain 1 of the lymphopoietic transcription factor E2A.

The E-protein transcription factors guide immune cell differentiation, with E12 and E47 (hereafter called E2A) being essential for B-cell specification and maturation. E2A and the oncogenic chimera E2A-PBX1 contain three transactivation domains (ADs), with AD1 and AD2 having redundant, independent, and cooperative functions in a cell-dependent manner. AD1 and AD2 both mediate their functions by binding to the KIX domain of the histone acetyltransferase paralogues CREB-binding protein (CBP) and E1A-binding protein P300 (p300).

Glyoxalase-1 overexpression in bone marrow cells reverses defective neovascularization in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Aims: Methylglyoxal (MG) accumulates in diabetes and impairs neovascularization. This study assessed whether overexpressing the MG-metabolizing enzyme glyoxalase-1 (GLO1) in only bone marrow cells (BMCs) could restore neovascularization in ischaemic tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Methods And Results: After 24 h of hyperglycaemic and hypoxic culture, BMCs from GLO1 overexpressing and wild-type (WT) diabetic mice were compared for migratory potential, viability, and mRNA expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL).