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Analysis of a histone H2A variant from fission yeast: evidence for a role in chromosome stability

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Abstract

We have isolated and characterised the pht1 gene from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The sequence of the predicted translation product has revealed a striking similarity to the family of H2A.F/Z histone variant proteins, which have been found in a variety of different organisms. Cells deleted for the pht1 gene locus grow slowly, exhibit an altered colony morphology, increased resistance to heat shock and show a significant decrease in the fidelity of segregation of an S. pombe minichromosome. We propose that the histone H2A variant encoded by the pht1 gene is important for chromosomal structure and function, possibly including a role in controlling the fidelity of chromosomal segregation during mitosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imperial Cancer Research Fund, P.O. Box 123, WC2 A3PX, London, UK

    S. M. Dorrington & P. Nurse

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, BS8 1RD, University Walk, Bristol, UK

    J. Hindley & G. A. Phear

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Perry Road, EX4 4QG, Exeter, UK

    S. J. Aves

  4. MRC Cell Mutation Unit, Sussex University, BN1 9RR, Falmer, Brighton, UK

    A. M. Carr

Authors
  1. A. M. Carr
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  2. S. M. Dorrington
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  3. J. Hindley
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  4. G. A. Phear
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  5. S. J. Aves
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  6. P. Nurse
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Communicated by B. J. Kilbey

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Carr, A.M., Dorrington, S.M., Hindley, J. et al. Analysis of a histone H2A variant from fission yeast: evidence for a role in chromosome stability. Molec. Gen. Genet. 245, 628–635 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282226

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282226

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