CENP-A overexpression promotes aneuploidy and karyotypic heterogeneity

Centromeric localization of the evolutionarily conserved histone H3 variant, CENP-A. is essential for chromosomal stability. CENP-A overexpression (OE) causesd its mislocalization to non-centromeric regions resulting in chromosomal instability (CIN) in yeast, flies and human cells. CENP-A OE and mislocalization have been observed in cancers and correlates with poor prognosis. However, the molecular consequences of CENP-A OE on CIN and aneuploidy have not been defined. Here, we overexpressed YFP-CENP-A in a pseudodiploid DLD1 cell line and showed that CENP-A OE leads to its mislocalization and CIN due to defects in kinetochore integrity and kinetochore-microtubule attachments. CENP-A OE also leads to its mislocalization and CIN in a xenograft mouse model. Under these conditions, it contributes to aneuploidy with karyotypic heterogeneity in human cells and xenograft mouse model. In summary, our studies provide a molecular link between CENP-A OE and aneuploidy, and suggest that karyotypic heterogeneity may contribute to the aggressive phenotype of CENP-A overexpressing cancers. Three biological replicates were analyzed for each of two conditions