Centromere Protein K (CENPK)

CENPK is a subunit of a CENPH-CENPI-associated centromeric complex that targets CENPA to centromeres and is required for proper kinetochore function and mitotic progression.

The deduced 306-amino acid protein contains 2 putative leucine zippers. Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR detected Solt only in testis. Immunofluorescence analysis detected Solt in the nuclei of transfected cells.CENPK constitutively localized to centromeres throughout the cell cycle. Chicken B cells expressing a conditional Cenpk deletion died upon activation of the deletion. Cenpk deletion led to loss of centromeric localization of Cenph, Cenpi, and Cenpl, and while preexisting Cenpa was stable, incorporation of newly synthesized Cenpa into centromeres appeared defective in mutant cells.