Centromere protein b

Centromere protein B, often abbreviated as 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 centromere autosome protein with a unique DNA-binding domain. It binds to a specific centromeric DNA sequence and is a component of the functional centromere complex. This protein is localized to centromeres throughout cell cycle and remains associated with centromeres during chromosome segregation. It is thought to be a critical component of functional centromeres and of the mitotic checkpoint during cell division.

Structure

The CENP-B protein is approximately 80 kDa in size and contains a central DNA-binding domain and two flanking domains. The DNA-binding domain recognizes and binds to a 17 bp sequence of DNA known as the CENP-B box, which is present in the centromeric alpha-satellite DNA of all human chromosomes.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the CENPB gene have been associated with various diseases, including autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer. In particular, overexpression of CENP-B has been observed in many types of cancer and is associated with poor prognosis.

See also

• Centromere
• Chromosome
• DNA-binding protein
• Gene
• Protein