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Updated: Apr 19, 2026
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Immunohistochemical Detection of 5-Methylcytosine and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Developing and Postmitotic Mouse Retina
Published on: August 29, 2018
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Replication-dependent histone genes are actively transcribed in differentiating and aging retinal neurons
Abdul Rouf Banday1, Marybeth Baumgartner, Sahar Al Seesi
1a Department of Physiology and Neurobiology ; University of Connecticut ; Storrs , CT USA.
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|December 9, 2014
Summary
Replication-dependent histone genes are transcribed in developing and aging retinal neurons, suggesting variant nucleosomes and a need to re-evaluate these genes in senescent cells.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Histone genes are crucial for DNA packaging and are typically cell-cycle regulated.
- Replication-dependent histone paralogs are often found in gene clusters.
- Their role in neuronal development and aging is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transcriptional regulation of replication-dependent histone genes during retinal development and aging.
- To determine if histone gene expression varies between paralogs and across developmental stages.
- To assess the expression of these genes in aging retinal cells.
Main Methods:
- Deep sequencing
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
- In situ hybridization (ISH)
- Microarray analysis
Main Results:
- Replication-dependent histone genes are transcribed in both progenitor and differentiating retinal neurons.
- Specific histone gene paralogs show distinct expression patterns during postnatal retinal development (e.g., Hist1h1b vs. Hist1h1c).
- These genes remain expressed in the aging retina, independent of mTOR pathway inactivation.
Conclusions:
- Differential expression of replication-dependent histone genes generates variant nucleosomes during retinal development.
- Expression in senescent neurons challenges the strict "replication-dependent" classification for a subset of these genes.
- Understanding histone gene regulation is vital for neuronal maintenance and function.
Keywords:
AACEChrGCLINLISHNEONBLONLPCRRPEamino acidchromosomecytoplasmic extractdevelopmentexpressionganglion cell layerhistonesin situ hybridizationinner nuclear layerisotypesnuclear extractouter neuroblastic layerouter nuclear layerpolymerase chain reactionqPCRquantitative PCRreplication-dependentretinaretinal pigment epitheliumtranscriptionvariant nucleosome
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