A time out for CENP-A

Abstract

Proper chromosome segregation relies on a functional centromere–kinetochore interface. We showed that chromatin containing CENtromere Protein A (CENP-A) is essential for centromere assembly, but dispensable for chromosome segregation in the presence of CENP-B-bound DNA sequences. This demonstrates the existence of two contact points between the DNA and the kinetochore to mediate successful chromosome segregation.