Heterochromatin protein 1 is recruited to various types of DNA damage

MS Luijsterburg, C (Christoffel) Dinant, Hannes Lans, J Stap, E Wiernasz, S Lagerwerf, Daniel Warmerdam, M Lindh, MC Brink, JW Dobrucki, JA Aten, MI Fousteri, Gert Jansen, NP Dantuma, Wim Vermeulen, LHF Mullenders, Adriaan Houtsmuller, PJ Verschure, R van Driel

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Abstract

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family members are chromatin-associated proteins involved in transcription, replication, and chromatin organization. We show that HP1 isoforms HP1-alpha, HP1-beta, and HP1-gamma are recruited to ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage and double-strand breaks (DSBs) in human cells. This response to DNA damage requires the chromo shadow domain of HP1 and is independent of H3K9 trimethylation and proteins that detect UV damage and DSBs. Loss of HP1 results in high sensitivity to UV light and ionizing radiation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, indicating that HP1 proteins are essential components of DNA damage response (DDR) systems. Analysis of single and double HP1 mutants in nematodes suggests that HP1 homologues have both unique and overlapping functions in the DDR. Our results show that HP1 proteins are important for DNA repair and may function to reorganize chromatin in response to damage.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)577-586
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume185
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Research programs

  • EMC MGC-01-12-03
  • EMC MGC-02-13-03
  • EMC MM-03-24-01

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