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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.06.05.658139

Identification of chromatin-associated RNAs at human centromeres

Fryer, K. A.·Limouse, C.·Straight, A. F.
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Abstract

Centromeres are a specialized chromatin domain that are required for the assembly of the mitotic kinetochore and the accurate segregation of chromosomes. Non-coding RNAs play essential roles in regulating genome organization including at the unique chromatin environment present at human centromeres. We performed Chromatin-Associated RNA sequencing (ChAR-seq) in three different human cell lines to identify and map RNAs associated with centromeric chromatin. Centromere enriched RNAs display distinct contact behaviors across repeat arrays and generally belong to three categories: centromere encoded, nucleolar localized, and highly abundant, broad-binding RNAs. Most centromere encoded RNAs remain locally associated with their transcription locus with the exception of a subset of human satellite RNAs. This work provides a comprehensive identification of centromere bound RNAs that may regulate the organization and activity of the centromere.

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Fryer, K. A., Limouse, C., Straight, A. F.. 2025-06-08. Identification of chromatin-associated RNAs at human centromeres. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.05.658139

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