This gene product is a highly conserved protein that facilitates centromere formation. It is a DNA-binding protein that is derived from transposases of the pogo DNA transposon family. It contains a helix-loop-helix DNA binding motif at the N-terminus, and a dimerization domain at the C-terminus. The DNA binding domain recognizes and binds a 17-bp sequence (CENP-B box) in the centromeric alpha satellite DNA. This protein is proposed to play an important role in the assembly of specific centromere structures in interphase nuclei and on mitotic chromosomes. It is also considered a major centromere autoantigen recognized by sera from patients with anti-centromere antibodies. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in human patients identified the CENPB as a potential biomarker for myocardial fibrosis after acute myocardial infarction, where it was the most up-regulated mRNA in that condition and was part of a predicted ceRNA network involving GAS6-AS1/SNHG22 and hsa-miR-135a-5p [Wang et al. DOI:10.2147/IJGM.S329391].