Anti-Silencing Function 1 Homolog A (ASF1A)

ASF1A encodes a member of the H3/H4 family of histone chaperone proteins and is similar to the anti-silencing function-1 gene in yeast. The protein is a key component of a histone donor complex that functions in nucleosome assembly. It interacts with histones H3 and H4, and functions together with a chromatin assembly factor during DNA replication and repair. The deduced protein contains 204 amino acids. The N-terminal 153 amino acids share 59% identity with yeast Asf1, but the C terminus shows little homology.The deduced 205-amino acid ASF1A protein has a calculated molecular mass of 22.9 kD and shares 71% amino acid identity with ASF1B.ASF1A was rapidly dephosphorylated upon inhibition of DNA replication and activation of the DNA replication checkpoint, concomitant with inactivation of TLKs.