Functions of histone H2A variants

Abstract

One way that cells alter their chromatin structure is by incorporating histone variants into their nucleosomes. Unlike canonical histones, which are deposited behind the replication fork during the S-phase of cell division, the accumulation of histone variants is independent of DNA replication. However, among the histone variants, H2A variants play an important role in DNA replication, damage repair, recombination and gene expression. This paper provides a review of H2A histone variants and their functions, exchange in the chromatin and depositional modes by specific chaperones. © 2006 Japanese Society of Animal Science.