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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence
Published on: June 26, 2020
Complementary functions of ATM and H2AX in development and suppression of genomic instability
Shan Zha1, JoAnn Sekiguchi, James W Brush
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Children's Hospital, Immune Disease Institute, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Upon DNA damage, histone H2AX is phosphorylated by ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and other phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related protein kinases. To elucidate further the potential overlapping and unique functions of ATM and H2AX, we asked whether they have synergistic functions in the development and maintenance of genomic stability by inactivating both genes in mouse germ line. Combined ATM/H2AX deficiency caused embryonic lethality and dramatic cellular genomic instability. Mechanistically, severe genomic instability in the double-deficient cells is associated with a requirement for H2AX to repair oxidative DNA damage resulting from ATM deficiency. We discuss these findings in the context of synergies between ATM and other repair factors.
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