Maternal CENP-C restores centromere symmetry in mammalian zygotes to ensure proper chromosome segregation

Across metazoan species, the centromere-specific histone variant CENP-A is essential for accurate chromosome segregation, yet its regulation at the parental-to-zygote transition in mammals is poorly understood. To address this, we developed a CENP-A-mScarlet knock-in mouse model, which revealed sex-specific dynamics: mature sperm retains 10% of the CENP-A levels present in MII-oocytes. However, in zygotes prior to the first mitosis, this difference is resolved, using maternally inherited cytoplasmic-CENP-A. Notably, the increase in CENP-A at paternal centromeres is independent of sensing CENP-A asymmetry or the presence of maternal chromosomes. Instead, CENP-A equalization relies on asymmetric recruitment of maternal CENP-C to paternal centromeres. Depletion of maternal CENP-A decreases total CENP-A in pronuclei without disrupting equalization. In contrast, reducing maternal CENP-C or disruption of its dimerization domains impairs CENP-A equalization and chromosome segregation. Therefore, maternal CENP-C acts a key epigenetic regulator that resets centromeric symmetry at fertilization to preserve genome integrity. CENP-A asymmetry between sperm and oocyte centromeres is a conserved feature from flies to mammals including mice and humans.CENP-A asymmetry between parental centromeres is resolved prior to the first zygotic division via maternally inherited, cytoplasmic CENP-A.Zygotic CENP-A levels in zygotes are regulated in a pronucleus-autonomous manner.CENP-A equalization relies on asymmetric CENP-C recruitment to the paternal pronucleus and requires CENP-C dimerization. Centromere; CENP-A; CENP-C; sperm; oocyte; zygote; intergenerational; epigenetics; mouse.