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Related Concept Videos

The Nucleosome Core Particle01:12

The Nucleosome Core Particle

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
The Nucleosome Core Particle02:10

The Nucleosome Core Particle

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
Histone Modification02:32

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Histone Modification02:32

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...
The Nucleosome01:19

The Nucleosome

Human DNA is almost two meters long. However, it is compressed inside a tiny nucleus measuring only a few microns in diameter. To make this degree of compaction possible, DNA is organized into several sequential levels so that it can fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
In a chromosome, DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called a histone octamer core, which consists of 8 histone proteins. This...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Quantification of γH2AX Foci in Response to Ionising Radiation
06:53

Quantification of γH2AX Foci in Response to Ionising Radiation

Published on: April 6, 2010

Structure and function of histone H2AX.

David Miguel Susano Pinto1, Andrew Flaus

  • 1Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|December 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Histone H2AX is crucial for genome stability, aiding DNA damage signaling and repair. Its unique structure and post-translational modifications, like phosphorylation to gammaH2AX, are key to its function in DNA repair pathways.

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Evaluation of the Spatial Distribution of γH2AX following Ionizing Radiation
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09:39

Proximity Ligand Assay to Localize Proteins in DNA Damage Sites

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Quantification of γH2AX Foci in Response to Ionising Radiation
06:53

Quantification of γH2AX Foci in Response to Ionising Radiation

Published on: April 6, 2010

Evaluation of the Spatial Distribution of γH2AX following Ionizing Radiation
09:28

Evaluation of the Spatial Distribution of γH2AX following Ionizing Radiation

Published on: August 7, 2010

Proximity Ligand Assay to Localize Proteins in DNA Damage Sites
09:39

Proximity Ligand Assay to Localize Proteins in DNA Damage Sites

Published on: August 2, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Histone H2AX is a vital histone variant essential for maintaining genome stability in eukaryotes.
  • It plays a central role in signaling DNA damage and facilitating the assembly of DNA repair complexes.
  • H2AX shares similarities with canonical H2A but possesses unique structural and functional features tailored for DNA repair.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of Histone H2AX structure and function.
  • To explore the specific features of H2AX that enable its role in DNA damage response.
  • To discuss the implications of H2AX's unique properties, including post-translational modifications and chromatin organization, on genome stability.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on Histone H2AX.
  • Analysis of H2AX protein sequence, gene structure, and post-translational modifications.
  • Examination of H2AX's role in nucleosome structure, chromatin distribution, and DNA damage signaling.

Main Results:

  • Histone H2AX is critical for genome stability, acting in DNA damage signaling and repair foci assembly.
  • Specific post-translational modifications, notably phosphorylation to gammaH2AX by PIKKs, are crucial for H2AX function.
  • H2AX's unique structural and biochemical properties, including inter-nucleosomal spacing and distinguishing amino acid residues, are linked to its DNA damage response role.

Conclusions:

  • Histone H2AX's structure-function relationship is central to its role in maintaining genome integrity.
  • Understanding H2AX modifications and structural dynamics provides insights into DNA repair mechanisms.
  • Further research into H2AX will illuminate fundamental aspects of genome stability and disease.