Centromeric histone H3-like protein; associates with promoters, accessible chromatin and RNAPII-bound regions; CEN association promotes kinetochore assembly and Sgo1p association with CEN chromatin; Ipl1p-dependent phosphorylation destabilizes defective kinetochores promoting biorientation; phosphorylation by Cdc7p maintains Cse4 at kinetochores promoting chromosome segregation; Upa1p methylation of R37 regulates kinetochore function and chromosome segregation; complements human homolog CENP-A