Gene structure, chromosomal localization and immunolocalization of chickencentromere proteins CENP-C and ZW10

We determined the genomic structures and complete sequences of the coding r egions of the chicken CENP-C and ZW10 genes. These two genes encode protein s that are thought to be involved in maintaining the fidelity of chromosome segregation. The chicken CENP-C gene is 30 kb in length and contains 19 ex ons. The chicken ZW10 gene spans 10 kb and contains 15 exons. The 5'-untran slated regions of these genes contain several binding sites for transcripti on factors such as Sp-1, E2F, p300, and members of the GATA family. By fluo rescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, the CENP-C was mapped to ch romosome 4 and the ZW10 gene was: mapped to a microchromosome. Antibodies a gainst the chicken ZW10 protein revealed a cell cycle-dependent staining pa ttern in DT40 cells. ZW10 protein was distributed throughout the cytoplasm of DT40 cells during interphase. In most metaphase cells, ZW10 proteins app eared equally divided between the centromere and the spindle apparatus. Dur ing anaphase, chicken ZW10 proteins were no longer localized near chromosom es or the mitotic apparatus but were present diffusely in the cytoplasm. (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.