A protein famous for steering chromosomes has been caught moonlighting as a gene regulator by sniffing out physical knots in DNA.
April 14, 2026
Original Paper
CENP-B binds hairpin motifs in chromosome arms influencing gene expression
bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.04.10.717743
The Takeaway
We thought CENP-B only worked at the cell's 'anchor point' during division, but it actually wanders the entire genome to flip gene switches based on DNA shape rather than the genetic code. It proves that the physical geometry of DNA—the way it bends and hairpins—is a hidden layer of control as vital as the letters of the sequence themselves.
From the abstract
CENP-B, a centromeric protein known for its role in binding the B box sequence of centromeric DNA, has long been recognized as important, though not essential, for kinetochore attachment and chromosome segregation. Here, we identify an unexpected, non-centromeric role for CENP-B. We demonstrate that CENP-B binds to specific non-centromeric sites along chromosome arms, predominantly at promoters, and depletion of CENP-B leads to dysregulated gene expression. Binding is enriched in G2 phase cells