The YETI gene: from Drosophila melanogaster heterochromatin to human craniofacial development

In the present work, we have performed a functional analysis of CG40218, a heterochromatin gene encoding the YETI protein. YETI is a member of the evolutionarily conserved family of BCNT proteins whose function is still unclear. We found that YETI binds to polytene chromosomes and, possibly via interactions with TIP60 chromatin remodeling complex, is responsible for the proper deposition of H2Av on chromosomes. Moreover, our findings strongly suggest a conserved role in chromosome organization of the YETI protein and its human ortholog, CFDP1, which is extremely interesting in the light of the involvement of CFDP1 in complex developmental syndromes. This study shed light on the function of YETI and CFDP1 proteins and may serve as unifying example of the key role played by the BCNT protein family in chromosome organization.