H4 Involvement in DNA Repair

A news article 'Mayo Clinic Uncovers Key Step in Repair Mechanism of DNA Double-Strand Breaks' reports of a discovery related to repairing DNA double-strand breaks. Research results were published in 'Cell' (subscription required).

From the first linked site:

"It was known from previous studies in fission yeast that histone H4 and Crb2 (the protein counterpart of 53BP1 in fission yeast) are important components of the DNA repair machinery. "Our work shows that this also is true in humans and that direct binding of 53BP1 to histone H4 is necessary to bring 53BP1 near the damaged DNA. In a similar fashion, we also demonstrated that Crb2 directly interacts with histone H4," says Mayo Clinic structural biologist Georges Mer, Ph.D., who led the study."

A major theme of this blog is emphasizing the importance of DNA repair mechanisms. Not only are they critical to life, they are critical in determining the plausibility of competing theories as to life's orgin and development. The cited study confirmed what researchers suspected based on previously established data obtained from the study of fission yeast. Interactions with histone H4 in humans are needed to allow protein 53BP1 to get near damaged DNA. DNA repair is like a book with many chapters. Histone H4 merits a chapter of its own.