High levels of histones promote whole-genome-duplications and trigger a Swe1<sup>WEE1</sup>-dependent phosphorylation of Cdc28<sup>CDK1</sup>.

Maya Miles, Douglas; Peñate, Xenia; Sanmartín Olmo, Trinidad; Jourquin, Frederic; Muñoz Centeno, Maria Cruz; Mendoza, Manuel; Simon, Marie-Noelle; Chavez, Sebastian et al. · Elife · 2018

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have played a central role in the evolution of genomes and constitute an important source of genome instability in cancer. Here, we show in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> that abnormal accumulations of histones are sufficient to induce WGDs. Our results link these WGDs to a reduced incorporation of the histone variant H2A.Z to chromatin. Moreover, we show that high levels of histones promote Swe1<sup>WEE1</sup> stabilisation thereby triggering the phosphorylation and inhibition of Cdc28<sup>CDK1</sup> through a mechanism different of the canonical DNA damage response. Our results link high levels of histones to a specific type of genome instability that is quite frequently observed in cancer and uncovers a new mechanism that might be able to respond to high levels of histones.

Medical subject headings