Structural insights into γH2Ax containing nucleosomes.

ABSTRACT: The phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX on the nucleosome, yielding γH2AX, acts as a 'master control switch', signaling the recruitment of DNA repair factors at DNA double-stranded break sites. This phosphorylation is recognized by BRCA1 carboxy-terminal (BRCT) domains of specific repair proteins. Using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we provide structural insights into diverse mononucleosome architectures and inter-nucleosomal interactions in the presence of H2AX, mimicking nucleosomes during DNA repair. We resolved three distinct stacked structures where the nucleosomal dyad axes and disk planes align parallel. The inter-nucleosomal interactions involve unique contacts mediated by the H4 N-terminal tail, exposed H2B elements, and DNA. Geometric analysis of stacking const

SUBMITTER: Panigrahi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12541577 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature