Article
Linker histone H1 prevents R-loop accumulation and genome instability in heterochromatin
Author/s | Bayona Feliu, Aleix
Casas Lamesa, Anna Reina, Óscar Bernués, J. Azorín, Fernando |
Department | Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Genética |
Publication Date | 2017 |
Deposit Date | 2017-09-06 |
Published in |
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Abstract | Linker histone H1 is an important structural component of chromatin that stabilizes the nucleosome and compacts the nucleofilament into higher-order structures. The biology of histone H1 remains, however, poorly understood. ... Linker histone H1 is an important structural component of chromatin that stabilizes the nucleosome and compacts the nucleofilament into higher-order structures. The biology of histone H1 remains, however, poorly understood. Here we show that Drosophila histone H1 (dH1) prevents genome instability as indicated by the increased γH2Av (H2AvS137P) content and the high incidence of DNA breaks and sister-chromatid exchanges observed in dH1-depleted cells. Increased γH2Av occurs preferentially at heterochromatic elements, which are upregulated upon dH1 depletion, and is due to the abnormal accumulation of DNA:RNA hybrids (R-loops). R-loops accumulation is readily detectable in G1-phase, whereas γH2Av increases mainly during DNA replication. These defects induce JNK-mediated apoptosis and are specific of dH1 depletion since they are not observed when heterochromatin silencing is relieved by HP1a depletion. Altogether, our results suggest that histone H1 prevents R-loops-induced DNA damage in heterochromatin and unveil its essential contribution to maintenance of genome stability. |
Funding agencies | Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España |
Project ID. | BFU2012-30724
BFU2015-65082-P |
Citation | Bayona Feliu, A., Casas Lamesa, A., Reina, Ó., Bernués, J. y Azorín, F. (2017). Linker histone H1 prevents R-loop accumulation and genome instability in heterochromatin. Nature Communications, 8 (1), 283-. |
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