High mobility group protein-mediated transcription requires DNA damage marker γ-H2AX

Cell Res. 2015 Jul;25(7):837-50. doi: 10.1038/cr.2015.67. Epub 2015 Jun 5.

Abstract

The eukaryotic genome is organized into chromatins, the physiological template for DNA-dependent processes including replication, recombination, repair, and transcription. Chromatin-mediated transcription regulation involves DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications. However, chromatin also contains non-histone chromatin-associated proteins, of which the high-mobility group (HMG) proteins are the most abundant. Although it is known that HMG proteins induce structural changes of chromatin, the processes underlying transcription regulation by HMG proteins are poorly understood. Here we decipher the molecular mechanism of transcription regulation mediated by the HMG AT-hook 2 protein (HMGA2). We combined proteomic, ChIP-seq, and transcriptome data to show that HMGA2-induced transcription requires phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX at S139 (H2AXS139ph; γ-H2AX) mediated by the protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). Furthermore, we demonstrate the biological relevance of this mechanism within the context of TGFβ1 signaling. The interplay between HMGA2, ATM, and H2AX is a novel mechanism of transcription initiation. Our results link H2AXS139ph to transcription, assigning a new function for this DNA damage marker. Controlled chromatin opening during transcription may involve intermediates with DNA breaks that may require mechanisms that ensure the integrity of the genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / physiology
  • DNA Damage / physiology*
  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • DNA Replication / physiology
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / metabolism*
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • H2AX protein, human
  • H2AX protein, mouse
  • High Mobility Group Proteins
  • Histones