Localization and Function of Budding Yeast CENP-A Depends upon Kinetochore Protein Interactions and Is Independent of Canonical Centromere Sequence

• Budding yeast CENP-A localizes to a synthetic kinetochore without a CEN sequence
• Synthetic kinetochore localization of Cse4 requires CBF3 and Dam1-DASH complexes
• The function of the synthetic kinetochore requires Cse4
• The Dam1-DASH complex is important for Cse4 localization at the natural centromere

SummaryIn many eukaryotes, the centromere is epigenetically specified and not strictly defined by sequence. In contrast, budding yeast has a specific 125 bp sequence required for kinetochore function. Despite the difference in centromere specification, budding yeast and multicellular eukaryotic centromeres contain a highly conserved histone H3 variant, CENP-A. The localization of budding yeast CENP-A, Cse4, requires the centromere DNA binding components, which are not conserved in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we report that Cse4 localizes and functions at a synthetic kinetochore assembly site that lacks centromere sequence. The outer kinetochore Dam1-DASH and inner kinetochore CBF3 complexes are required for Cse4 localization to that site. Furthermore, the natural kinetochore also requires the outer kinetochore proteins for full Cse4 localization. Our results suggest that Cse4 localization at a functional kinetochore does not require the recognition of a specific DNA sequence by the CBF3 complex; rather, its localization depends on stable interactions among kinetochore proteins.

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