Centromeric histone H3-like protein; associates with promoters, accessible chromatin and RNAPII-bound regions; centromeric association promotes kinetochore assembly and Sgo1p association with CEN chromatin; Ipl1p-dependent phosphorylation destabilizes defective kinetochores promoting biorientation; phosphorylation by Cdc7p maintains Cse4p at kinetochores and promotes chromosome segregation; R37 methylation regulates kinetochore function and chromosome segregation; complements human homolog CENPA