The function of CENPA (centromere protein A, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000115163) is as follows. Histone H3-like nucleosomal protein that is specifically found in centromeric nucleosomes (PubMed:11756469, PubMed:14667408, PubMed:15282608, PubMed:15475964, PubMed:15702419, PubMed:17651496, PubMed:19114591, PubMed:20739937, PubMed:27499292, PubMed:7962047, PubMed:9024683). Replaces conventional H3 in the nucleosome core of centromeric chromatin that serves as an assembly site for the inner kinetochore (PubMed:18072184). The presence of CENPA subtly modifies the nucleosome structure and the way DNA is wrapped around the nucleosome and gives rise to protruding DNA ends that are less well- ordered and rigid compared to nucleosomes containing histone H3 (PubMed:26878239, PubMed:27499292). May serve as an epigenetic mark that propagates centromere identity through replication and cell division (PubMed:15282608, PubMed:15475964, PubMed:20739937, PubMed:21478274, PubMed:26878239). Required for recruitment and assembly of kinetochore proteins, and as a consequence required for progress through mitosis, chromosome segregation and cytokinesis (PubMed:11756469, PubMed:14667408, PubMed:18072184, PubMed:23818633, PubMed:25556658, PubMed:27499292). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11756469, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14667408, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15282608, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15475964, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15702419, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17651496, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18072184, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19114591, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21478274, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23818633, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25556658, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26878239, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27499292, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7962047, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9024683, ECO:0000305|PubMed:20739937}.