Required for distribution of pericentromeric heterochromatin in interphase nuclei and for centromere formation and organization, chromosome alignment and cytokinesis. Binds 2 Zn(2+) ions per subunit. Enriched at the nuclear periphery and around the nucleolus (PubMed:12196509). In mitotic cells, localizes to kinetochores from prometaphase to metaphase (PubMed:18772885). At anaphase onset, transfers to the spindle midzone and then to the mid-body in telophase and cytokinesis (PubMed:18772885). Belongs to the Gfa family.