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. In mitotic cells, localizes to kinetochores from prometaphase to metaphase. At anaphase onset, transfers to the spindle midzone and then to the mid-body in telophase and cytokinesis. Belongs to the Gfa family.