# Functions and Regulation of Centromeric Transcription

> **NIH NIH R01** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $304,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
The human centromere contains non-coding repetitive alpha-satellite DNA sequences that is under
active RNA polymerase (RNAP) II-catalyzed transcription. The centromeric transcription has been
proposed to play an important role in the deposition of centromere proteins to centromeric chromatin
and centromeric cohesion. However, these conclusions are facing a challenge because the approaches
to suppress centromeric transcription in these studies were not specific to centromeres. Therefore, it is
critically important to develop novel approaches to specifically inactivate centromeric transcription
without significantly altering global gene transcription and then determine the functions of centromeric
transcription. In addition, how centromeric transcription is regulated is also poorly understood. The
overall objective of this application is to determine the functioning mechanisms underlying centromeric
transcription. Based on the published and our preliminary data, we hypothesize that centromeric
transcription orchestrated by specific factors and histone modifications during the cell cycle promotes
centromeric cohesion that is essential for chromosome segregation. This hypothesis will be tested by
pursuing three specific aims: 1) determining the functions of centromeric transcription. We will examine
centromeric cohesion when centromeric transcription is specifically suppressed using our newly
developed approach. 2) elucidating the epigenetic regulation of centromeric transcription. We will test
the role of the histone mark H3K4 di-methylation (me2) in centromeric transcription and its regulation.
3) identifying the key regulators for centromeric transcription. We will test the functioning mechanism of
Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)11 in centromeric transcription. At the completion of the proposed
research, we will expect to have determined the functioning mechanisms of centromeric transcription.
These results will have an important positive impact because they will contribute to a conceptual
framework for the future identification and development for potential cancer therapeutic targets.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179898
- **Project number:** 1R01GM141123-01
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Hong Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $304,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179898

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179898, Functions and Regulation of Centromeric Transcription (1R01GM141123-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179898. Licensed CC0.

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