Epigenetic Modulation of H4K20 Methylation at Mitotic Centromeres

Dynamic regulation of chromatin structure is critical for several biological processes, including accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis. Histone posttranslational modifications that occur at centromeric heterochromatin have the capacity to change the formation and function of the centromere and, ultimately, how the kinetochore interacts with the mitotic spindle during cell division. Defects in this regulation corrupt the way attachments are made and can result in chromosome segregation errors. Here I characterize the role of the Suv420, a histone lysine methyltransferase, in regulating centromere structure and kinetochore composition. My data indicate centromeric Histone 4 Lysine 20 (H4K20) trimethylation limits Aurora B localization to the centromere and plays a role in accurate chromosome segregation.