CENH3 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB291210, designated ZmCENH3 on maize chromosome 6, encodes a protein that is a structural constituent of chromatin and binds nucleosomal DNA. This gene is associated with kinetochore assembly, meiotic chromosome segregation, sister chromatid segregation, spindle orientation, and the spindle assembly checkpoint. It has also been linked to telomere assembly, gene conversion, and sex determination. On the trait level, ZmCENH3 is associated with grain number, grain yield, seed protein content, anthesis time, germination rate, water use efficiency, heterosis, and cytoplasmic male sterility. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to the 1BL/1RS chromosomal translocation.