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ZNF397, a new class of interphase to early prophase-specific, SCAN-zinc-finger, mammalian centromere protein

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Abstract

The centromere is a complex structure required for equal segregation of newly synthesised sister chromatids at mitosis. One of the significant objectives in centromere research is to determine the complete repertoire of protein components that constitute the kinetochore. Here, we identify a novel centromere protein using a centromere-positive autoimmune serum from a patient with watermelon stomach disease. Western blot and screening of a lambda phage expression library revealed a 60-kDa protein, ZNF397. This protein belongs to the classical Cys2His2 group of the zinc-finger protein superfamily and contains two conserved domains: a leucine-rich SCAN domain and nine Cys2His2 zinc fingers. Bioinformatic analysis shows that ZNF397 is conserved in placental mammals. Stable GFP:ZNF397-expressing human cells show co-localisation of ZNF397 with the constitutive centromere protein CENP-A during interphase and early prophase. Deletion and domain-swap constructs indicate that the SCAN domain is necessary but not sufficient for centromere localisation. Gene-knockout studies in mice using the mouse orthologue (Zfp397) reveal that ZNF397 is a non-essential protein. These properties define ZNF397 as a member of a new class of interphase to early prophase-specific and SCAN domain-containing mammalian centromere protein. The possible role of this protein in transcription at the centromere is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Tom Kay, St. Vincent’s Institute, Melbourne for providing the watermelon stomach disease sera and Sophie Gazeas and staff at the University of Melbourne for mouse husbandry.

This work was supported by project grant 436920 from The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. PK is an R.D. Wright Fellow (ID#436984), and KHAC is a Senior Principal Research Fellow (I.D. # 334300) of NHMRC.

This research has complied with the federal government guidelines and the Institutional policies on using mice in research.

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There are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chromosome and Chromatin Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia

    S. L. Bailey, S. C. Chang, B. Griffiths, A. N. Graham, E. Earle, K. H. A. Choo & P. Kalitsis

  2. Epigenetics Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia

    R. Saffery

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  1. S. L. Bailey
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  2. S. C. Chang
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  3. B. Griffiths
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Correspondence to P. Kalitsis.

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Communicated by H. Masumoto

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Bailey, S.L., Chang, S.C., Griffiths, B. et al. ZNF397, a new class of interphase to early prophase-specific, SCAN-zinc-finger, mammalian centromere protein. Chromosoma 117, 367–380 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-008-0155-7

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