Centrosomal Protein 27kDa (CEP27)

HAUS2 is 1 of 8 subunits of the 390-kD human augmin complex, or HAUS complex. The augmin complex was first identified in Drosophila, and its name comes from the Latin verb 'augmentare,' meaning 'to increase.' The augmin complex is a microtubule-binding complex involved in microtubule generation within the mitotic spindle and is vital to mitotic spindle assembly. CEP27 is a critical component of the human augmin complex, and they confirmed interaction of CEP27 with the other 7 augmin subunits by coimmunoprecipitation analysis. Knockdown of CEP27 or any of the other augmin subunits resulted in destabilization of kinetochore microtubules, formation of multipolar spindles, fragmentation of centrosomes, and increased centrosome size.