sentromerin

Sentromerin is a protein encoded by the SNRM gene in humans. It is a member of the centromere-binding protein family and is primarily expressed in proliferating cells, particularly in the nuclei of somatic cells undergoing cell division. The protein localizes to the centromere and kinetochore during mitosis, where it is thought to contribute to the proper attachment of spindle microtubules and the maintenance of chromosome stability.

The SNRM gene was identified during the sequencing of centromeric chromatin in the early 2000s. Initial functional studies employed RNA interference to deplete sentromerin in cultured human fibroblasts; the cells displayed increased rates of chromosome missegregation and elevated micronuclei formation. Subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP‑seq) experiments showed that sentromerin binds centromeric α‑satellite DNA and interacts with other essential kinetochore proteins such as CENP‑A and CENP‑C. Biochemical assays have demonstrated that sentromerin contains a C2H2 zinc finger domain and a coiled‑coil motif that mediate protein‑protein interactions.

Although not a core kinetochore component, sentromerin appears to act as an auxiliary scaffold that stabilizes the kinetochore complex under tension. Mutations in SNRM have not yet been linked to human disease, but knock‑in mouse models exhibit mild growth retardation and increased susceptibility to aneuploidy in germ cells, suggesting a role in genome integrity. Further research into its regulatory mechanisms and potential interactions with other centromeric proteins is ongoing.