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Focus on histone variant H2AX: To be or not to be
Author(s) -
Yuan Jingsong,
Adamski Rachel,
Chen Junjie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.05.021
Subject(s) - dna damage , histone , dna repair , biology , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , dna damage repair , histone h2a , genetics
Phosphorylation of histone variant H2AX at serine 139, named γH2AX, has been widely used as a sensitive marker for DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs). γH2AX is required for the accumulation of many DNA damage response (DDR) proteins at DSBs. Thus it is believed to be the principal signaling protein involved in DDR and to play an important role in DNA repair. However, only mild defects in DNA damage signaling and DNA repair were observed in H2AX‐deficient cells and animals. Such findings prompted us and others to explore H2AX‐independent mechanisms in DNA damage response. Here, we will review recent advances in our understanding of H2AX‐dependent and independent DNA damage signaling and repair pathways in mammalian cells.