A novel chromatin protein, distantly related to histone H2A, is largely excluded from the inactive X chromosome.

ABSTRACT: Chromatin on the mammalian inactive X chromosome differs in a number of ways from that on the active X. One protein, macroH2A, whose amino terminus is closely related to histone H2A, is enriched on the heterochromatic inactive X chromosome in female cells. Here, we report the identification and localization of a novel and more distant histone variant, designated H2A-Bbd, that is only 48% identical to histone H2A. In both interphase and metaphase female cells, using either a myc epitope-tagged or green fluorescent protein-tagged H2A-Bbd construct, the inactive X chromosome is markedly deficient in H2A-Bbd staining, while the active X and the autosomes stain throughout. In double-labeling experiments, antibodies to acetylated histone H4 show a pattern of staining indistinguishable from H2A-B

SUBMITTER: Chadwick BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2199617 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature