Photobleaching of GFP-labeled H2AX in chromatin: H2AX has low diffusional mobility in the nucleus

The Ser-139 phosphorylated form of replacement histone H2AX (gamma-H2AX) is induced within large chromatin domains by double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in mammalian chromosomes. This modification is known to be important for the maintenance of chromosome stability. However, the mechanism of gamma-H2AX formation at DSBs and its subsequent elimination during DSB repair remains unknown. gamma-H2AX formation and elimination could occur by direct phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of H2AX in situ in the chromatin. Alternatively, H2AX molecules could be phosphorylated freely in the nucleus, diffuse into chromatin regions containing DSBs and then diffuse out after DNA repair. In this study we show that free histone H2AX can be efficiently phosphorylated in vitro by nuclear extracts and that free gamma-H2AX can be dephosphorylated in vitro by the mammalian protein phosphatase 1-alpha. We made N-terminal fusion constructs of H2AX with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and studied their diffusional mobility in transient and stable cell transfections. In the absence or presence of DSBs, only a small fraction of GFP-H2AX is redistributed after photobleaching, indicating that in vivo this histone is essentially immobile in chromatin. This suggests that gamma-H2AX formation in chromatin is unlikely to occur by diffusion of free histone and gamma-H2AX dephosphorylation may involve the mammalian protein phosphatase 1alpha.     

Role of H2AX in DNA damage response and human cancers

H2AX, the evolutionarily conserved variant of histone H2A, has been identified as one of the key histones to undergo various post-translational modifications in response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). By virtue of these modifications, that include acetylation, phosphorylation and ubiquitination, H2AX marks the damaged DNA double helix, facilitating local recruitment and retention of DNA repair and chromatin remodeling factors to restore genomic integrity. These modifications are essential for effective DSB repair, so is their removal for cell, to recover from checkpoint arrest. Because of these vital roles during DSB signaling and also its activation during early cancer stages, H2AX is emerging as an intriguing gene in tumor biology, supported further by frequent deletion of the region harboring this gene. This review focuses on the insights gained from recent studies on dynamic regulation of H2AX in DSB repair. Also, posing future challenges in the area of chromatin reorganization and retention of epigenetic signature post-DSB-repair with implication of its haploinsufficiency in human cancers.     

A cooperative activation loop among SWI/SNF, γ‐H2AX and H3 acetylation for DNA double‐strand break repair

Although recent studies highlight the importance of histone modifications and ATP‐dependent chromatin remodelling in DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair, how these mechanisms cooperate has remained largely unexplored. Here, we show that the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex, earlier known to facilitate the phosphorylation of histone H2AX at Ser‐139 (S139ph) after DNA damage, binds to γ‐H2AX (the phosphorylated form of H2AX)‐containing nucleosomes in S139ph‐dependent manner. Unexpectedly, BRG1, the catalytic subunit of SWI/SNF, binds to γ‐H2AX nucleosomes by interacting with acetylated H3, not with S139ph itself, through its bromodomain. Blocking the BRG1 interaction with γ‐H2AX nucleosomes either by deletion or overexpression of the BRG1 bromodomain leads to defect of S139ph and DSB repair. H3 acetylation is required for the binding of BRG1 to γ‐H2AX nucleosomes. S139ph stimulates the H3 acetylation on γ‐H2AX nucleosomes, and the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 is responsible for this novel crosstalk. The H3 acetylation on γ‐H2AX nucleosomes is induced by DNA damage. These results collectively suggest that SWI/SNF, γ‐H2AX and H3 acetylation cooperatively act in a feedback activation loop to facilitate DSB repair.     

DNA damage-dependent acetylation and ubiquitination of H2AX enhances chromatin dynamics

Chromatin reorganization plays an important role in DNA repair, apoptosis, and cell cycle checkpoints. Among proteins involved in chromatin reorganization, TIP60 histone acetyltransferase has been shown to play a role in DNA repair and apoptosis. However, how TIP60 regulates chromatin reorganization in the response of human cells to DNA damage is largely unknown. Here, we show that ionizing irradiation induces TIP60 acetylation of histone H2AX, a variant form of H2A known to be phosphorylated following DNA damage. Furthermore, TIP60 regulates the ubiquitination of H2AX via the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC13, which is induced by DNA damage. This ubiquitination of H2AX requires its prior acetylation. We also demonstrate that acetylation-dependent ubiquitination by the TIP60-UBC13 complex leads to the release of H2AX from damaged chromatin. We conclude that the sequential acetylation and ubiquitination of H2AX by TIP60-UBC13 promote enhanced histone dynamics, which in turn stimulate a DNA damage response.     

Global mapping of post-translational modifications on histone H3 variants in mouse testes

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based characterization is important in proteomic research for verification of structural features and functional understanding of gene expression. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as methylation and acetylation have been reported to be associated with chromatin remodeling during spermatogenesis. Although antibody- and MS-based approaches have been applied for characterization of PTMs on H3 variants during spermatogenesis, variant-specific PTMs are still underexplored. We identified several lysine modifications in H3 variants, including testis-specific histone H3 (H3t), through their successful separation with MS-based strategy, based on differences in masses, retention times, and presence of immonium ions. Besides methylation and acetylation, we detected formylation as a novel PTM on H3 variants in mouse testes. These patterns were also observed in H3t. Our data provide high-throughput structural information about PTMs on H3 variants in mouse testes and show possible applications of this strategy in future proteomic studies on histone PTMs.     

Histone H2AX is phosphorylated at sites of retroviral DNA integration but is dispensable for postintegration repair

The histone variant H2AX is rapidly phosphorylated (denoted gammaH2AX) in large chromatin domains (foci) flanking double strand DNA (dsDNA) breaks that are produced by ionizing radiation or genotoxic agents and during V(D)J recombination. H2AX-deficient cells and mice demonstrate increased sensitivity to dsDNA break damage, indicating an active role for gammaH2AX in DNA repair; however, gammaH2AX formation is not required for V(D)J recombination. The latter finding has suggested a greater dependence on gammaH2AX for anchoring free broken ends versus ends that are held together during programmed breakage-joining reactions. Retroviral DNA integration produces a unique intermediate in which a dsDNA break in host DNA is held together by the intervening viral DNA, and such a reaction provides a useful model to distinguish gammaH2AX functions. We found that integration promotes transient formation of gammaH2AX at retroviral integration sites as detected by both immunocytological and chromatin immunoprecipitation methods. These results provide the first direct evidence for the association of newly integrated viral DNA with a protein species that is an established marker for the onset of a DNA damage response. We also show that H2AX is not required for repair of the retroviral integration intermediate as determined by stable transduction. These observations provide independent support for an anchoring model for the function of gammaH2AX in chromatin repair.     

Dynamics and dispensability of variant-specific histone H1 Lys-26/Ser-27 and Thr-165 post-translational modifications

In mammals, the linker histone H1, involved in DNA packaging into chromatin, is represented by a family of variants. H1 tails undergo post-translational modifications (PTMs) that can be detected by mass spectrometry. We developed antibodies to analyze several of these as yet unexplored PTMs including the combination of H1.4 K26 acetylation or trimethylation and S27 phosphorylation. H1.2-T165 phosphorylation was detected at S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle and was dispensable for chromatin binding and cell proliferation; while the H1.4-K26 residue was essential for proper cell cycle progression. We conclude that histone H1 PTMs are dynamic over the cell cycle and that the recognition of modified lysines may be affected by phosphorylation of adjacent residues.     

PP4 is a gamma H2AX phosphatase required for recovery from the DNA damage checkpoint

Phosphorylation of histone H2AX on Ser 139 (γH2AX) is one of the earliest events in the response to DNA double-strand breaks; however, the subsequent removal of γH2AX from chromatin is less understood, despite being a process tightly coordinated with DNA repair. Previous studies in yeast have identified the Pph3 phosphatase (the PP4C orthologue) as important for the dephosphorylation of γH2AX. By contrast, work in human cells attributed this activity to PP2A. Here, we report that PP4 contributes to the dephosphorylation of γH2AX, both at the sites of DNA damage and in undamaged chromatin in human cells, independently of a role in DNA repair. Furthermore, depletion of PP4C results in a prolonged checkpoint arrest, most likely owing to the persistence of mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1 (MDC1) at the sites of DNA lesions. Taken together, these results indicate that PP4 is an evolutionarily conserved γH2AX phosphatase.     

Systematic Identification of Functional Residues in Mammalian Histone H2AX

The histone variant H2AX is a principal component of chromatin involved in the detection, signaling, and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). H2AX is thought to operate primarily through its C-terminal S139 phosphorylation, which mediates the recruitment of DNA damage response (DDR) factors to chromatin at DSB sites. Here, we describe a comprehensive screen of 67 residues in H2AX to determine their contributions to H2AX functions. Our analysis revealed that H2AX is both sumoylated and ubiquitylated. Individual residues defective for sumoylation, ubiquitylation, and S139 phosphorylation in untreated and damaged cells were identified. Specifically, we identified an acidic triad region in both H2A and H2AX that is required in cis for their ubiquitylation. We also report the characterization of a human H2AX knockout cell line, which exhibits DDR defects, including p53 activation, following DNA damage. Collectively, this work constitutes the first genetic complementation system for a histone in human cells. Finally, our data reveal new roles for several residues in H2AX and define distinct functions for H2AX in human cells.