Multiple intron gain and loss events occurred during the evolution of Cenp-A gene

Abstract

Centromere protein A (CENP-A) is a histone H3 like protein, and it plays a very important role in chromosomal segregation during mitosis and meiosis. The analyses on the exon-intron organization of the Cenp-A gene in representative genomes revealed that multiple intron gain and loss events have occurred during the evolution of Cenp-A gene in opisthokonta (common ancestor of fungi and animals). Moreover, our results revealed that at least two positions were conserved in the intron gain and loss events during the evolution of the Cenp-A gene. © 2013 The Author(s).