The ATAD2/ANCCA homolog Yta7 cooperates with Scm3 <sup>HJURP</sup> to deposit Cse4 <sup>CENP-A</sup> at the centromere in yeast
Sara Shahnejat‐Bushehri, Ann E. Ehrenhofer‐Murray
Abstract
Significance Centromeres are the sites on the chromosome where kinetochores are assembled, a process that is required for faithful chromosome segregation. Nucleosomes in centromeric chromatin contain the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Here, we have identified the AAA + ATPase Yta7/ATAD2 as a deposition factor for CENP-A at centromeres in yeast. Our findings indicate that Yta7 acts as a hexameric AAA + ATPase that unfolds CENP-A/H4 and hands it over to Scm3/HJURP for incorporation into the centromeric nucleosome. Defects in this process result in kinetochore instability and chromosome segregation defects. The human homolog ATAD2 is frequently overexpressed in cancer cells, suggesting that it contributes to carcinogenesis by impairing chromosome segregation.