# ATR promotes genome instability via CENP-A eviction from centromeres after prolonged exposure to genotoxic stress

Source: [nature.com](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-79517-2) · 2026-11-11 · Life
Page: https://themorning.science/story/atr-promotes-genome-instability-via-cenp-a-eviction-from-centromeres-after-prolo-00ef8679037d818d
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- A Nature Communications paper reports that DNA damage activates the ATR kinase, which drives eviction of the centromeric protein CENP-A from centromeres.
- The authors state that interphase DNA damage can lead to genome instability by promoting missegregation of chromosomes lacking centromeres.
- The effect is described as occurring after prolonged exposure to genotoxic stress.

## Why it matters

It identifies a mechanism by which DNA damage in interphase could disrupt centromere identity and chromosome segregation, a possible route to genome instability relevant to cancer biology.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-11: Paper published online in Nature Communications (doi:10.1038/s41467-026-79517-2)

## Coverage

- [ATR promotes genome instability via CENP-A eviction from centromeres after prolonged exposure to genotoxic stress](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-79517-2) — nature.com, 2026-11-11

Tags: centromeres, genome instability, ATR, CENP-A, DNA damage

---

Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science