INCENP
Description
The INCENP (inner centromere protein) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
Inner centromere protein (INCENP) is a protein encoded by the INCENP gene in humans. It is a regulatory protein within the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), which is involved in regulating the catalytic proteins Aurora B and Aurora C. INCENP forms a tight three-helical bundle with Survivin and Borealin, with its N-terminal domain responsible for this bundle formation and its C-terminal domain interacting with Aurora B. INCENP is classified as a 'passenger' protein, meaning it localizes to the centromere during specific stages of the cell cycle. During mitosis, INCENP initially displays broad localization along chromosomes but gradually concentrates at centromeres as the cell cycle progresses. By telophase, INCENP is located in the midbody within the intercellular bridge, where it is discarded after cytokinesis.
INCENP is a key component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), a complex that plays a crucial role in regulating mitosis. The CPC is essential for proper chromosome alignment and segregation during cell division, and it is also involved in microtubule stabilization and spindle assembly. INCENP acts as a scaffold, controlling the localization and activity of the CPC. Its C-terminal region binds to AURKB or AURKC, while its N-terminus interacts with BIRC5/survivin and CDCA8/borealin, tethering the CPC to the inner centromere. The central SAH domain of INCENP binds microtubules, directing AURKB/C towards substrates near microtubules. The flexible nature of the SAH domain allows AURKB/C to track substrates on dynamic microtubules while maintaining the CPC's association with static chromatin. INCENP is involved in activating AURKB and AURKC, and it is also required for the localization of CBX5 to mitotic centromeres and the proper kinetochore localization of BUB1.
INCENP is also known as -.
