Histone H2A (H2A.X and H2A.Z) variants in molluscs: molecular characterization and potential implications for chromatin dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Histone variants are used by the cell to build specialized nucleosomes, replacing canonical histones and generating functionally specialized chromatin domains. Among many other processes, the specialization imparted by histone H2A (H2A.X and H2A.Z) variants to the nucleosome core particle constitutes the earliest response to DNA damage in the cell. Consequently, chromatin-based genotoxicity tests have been developed in those cases where enough information pertaining chromatin structure and dynamics is available (i.e., human and mouse). However, detailed chromatin knowledge is almost absent in most organisms, specially protostome animals. Molluscs (which represent sentinel organisms for the study of pollution) are not an exception to this lack of knowledge. In the present work we first iden

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Romero R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3256202 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature