H3.3 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB269650 (H3.3, also known as ZmCENH3) on maize chromosome 6 encodes a histone H3/CENP-A family protein with a histone-fold domain, annotated as a structural constituent of chromatin and associated with methyl-CpG, methyl-CpNpG and methyl-CpNpN binding, histone methylase and acetylase activities, and euchromatin binding. The gene is linked to centromere complex localisation, kinetochore assembly, centromeric silencing, sister chromatid cohesion, meiotic chromosome separation, and the spindle assembly checkpoint. It is associated with leaf trichome density, bacterial and aphid response traits, nitrogen sensitivity, cytokinin and brassinosteroid sensitivity, anthocyanin and auxin content, high temperature stress response, cytoplasmic male sterility, pollen fertility restoration, callus induction, shoot regeneration, and meristem identity. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to centromere targeting, haploid production, uniparental genome elimination, and male and female germline development.