Centromere protein B

Centromere protein B (CENP-B) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CENPB gene. It is a highly conserved DNA-binding protein that is important for the assembly of specific centromere structures.

Function

CENP-B is a centromeric autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) binding protein that binds to a specific subset of alphoid DNA, a particular class of centromeric repeats. CENP-B is thought to be involved in the organization of centromeric chromatin and the proper segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis.

Structure

The CENP-B protein contains a DNA-binding domain at its N-terminus, which can bind to the 17 bp CENP-B box sequence present in alphoid DNA repeats. The C-terminal part of the protein is thought to be involved in protein-protein interactions, possibly helping to recruit other proteins to the centromere.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the CENPB gene have been associated with various diseases, including autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer. In addition, abnormal expression of CENP-B has been observed in several types of cancer, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis.

See also

• Centromere
• Chromosome
• Mitosis
• Meiosis