Histone XH2AX is required for Xenopus anterior neural development: critical role of threonine 16 phosphorylation.

ABSTRACT: A role for histone H2AX, one of the variants of the nucleosome core histone H2A, has been demonstrated in DNA repair, tumor suppression, apoptosis, and cell cycle checkpoint function. However, the physiological function and post-translational modification of histone H2AX during vertebrate development have not been elucidated. Here, we provide evidence showing that Xenopus histone H2AX (XH2AX) has a role in the anterior neural plate for eye field formation during Xenopus embryogenesis. A loss-of-function study clearly demonstrated a critical role of XH2AX in anterior neural specification. Through a differentiation assay with Xenopus animal cap embryonic stem cells, we confirmed that XH2AX is required for the activin-induced anterior neural specification of the ectoderm. Furthermore, we foun

SUBMITTER: Lee SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2937984 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature