Transgenerational inheritance of centromere identity requires the CENP-A N-terminal tail in the C. elegans maternal germ line

Centromere protein A (CENP-A) is a histone H3 variant that defines centromeric chromatin and essential for centromere function. In most eukaryotes, CENP-A-containing epigenetically maintained, identity inherited from one cell cycle to the next. germ line of holocentric nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , this inheritance disrupted. CENP-A removed at mitosis-to-meiosis transition reestablished on during diplotene meiosis I. Here, we show N-terminal tail required de novo establishment centromeres, but then its presence becomes dispensable maintenance development. Worms homozygous deletion maintain functional centromeres development give rise inviable offspring because they fail reestablish in maternal line. We identify as critical domain interaction with conserved kinetochore KNL-2 argue plays an important role setting conclude are functionally distinct C .