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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cell. 2009 May 1;137(3):472–484. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.02.039

Figure 7. Model of CENP- A nucleosome deposition at centromeres.

Figure 7

Replication of sister chromatids requires that new CENP-A be deposited specifically at centromeric loci in order to maintain the epigenetic mark of the centromere. Existing CENP-A nucleosomes are distributed to sister chromosomes during DNA replication. Cells progress through G2 and mitosis with half the maximal centromeric complement of CENP-A nucleosomes. CENP-A nucleosomes are assembled in a HJURP dependent manner during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. HJURP and CENP-A levels accumulate during G2 and peak during M even though active assembly of CENP-A is restricted to G1. Restriction of CENP-A assembly may be achieved by modification of the CENP-A prenucleosomal complex or through the recruitment of other proteins recruited to the centromere during G1, such as the Mis18 complex, that may serve to prime the centromere and restrict CENP-A nucleosomes assembly.