H3.3 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB081270 (H3.3, also known as ZmCENH3) on maize chromosome 2 encodes a histone H3 variant that is a structural constituent of chromatin and is annotated with histone methylase, acetylase, and deacetylase activities, as well as methyl-CpG and nucleosomal DNA binding. The gene is associated with centromeric silencing, kinetochore assembly, sister chromatid cohesion, spindle checkpoint function, and meiotic progression from leptotene through telophase. It localizes to the centromere complex, chromocenter, euchromatin, and the generative cell nucleus. Associations include leaf trichome density, bacterial and aphid response, nitrogen sensitivity, cytokinin and brassinosteroid sensitivity, pollen fertility, cytoplasmic male sterility, high temperature stress response, and shoot regeneration. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to centromere identity, haploid production, uniparental genome elimination, and male and female germline development.