title: ATM-dependent DNA damage-independent mitotic phosphorylation of H2AX in normally growing mammalian cells.
abstract: H2AX is a core histone H2A variant that contains an absolutely conserved serine/glutamine (SQ) motif within an extended carboxy-terminal tail. H2AX phosphorylation at the SQ motif (gamma-H2AX) has been shown to increase dramatically upon exogenously introduced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In this study, we use quantitative in situ approaches to investigate the spatial patterning and cell cycle dynamics of gamma-H2AX in a panel of normally growing (unirradiated) mammalian cell lines and cultures. We provide the first evidence for the existence of two distinct yet highly discernible gamma-H2AX focal populations: a small population of large amorphous foci that colocalize with numerous DNA DSB repair proteins and previously undescribed but much more abundant small foci. These small foci do not recruit proteins involved in DNA DSB repair. Cell cycle analyses reveal unexpected dynamics for gamma-H2AX in unirradiated mammalian cells that include an ATM-dependent phosphorylation that is maximal during M phase. Based upon similarities drawn from other histone posttranslational modifications and previous observations in haplo-insufficient (H2AX-/+) and null mice (H2AX-/-), gamma-H2AX may contribute to the fidelity of the mitotic process, even in the absence of DNA damage, thereby ensuring the faithful transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next.
authors: Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada.
authors: Kirk J
authors: KJ
authors: McManus
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Hendzel
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004249:DNA Damage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis; D018668:Muntjacs; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C468783:H2AX protein, human; C576324:ATM protein, human; C576325:Atm protein, mouse; C475961:gamma-H2AX protein, mouse