DNA in the nucleus binds around histone proteins to create chromatin, which allows compaction and regulation of DNA. Histone H2AX is an important component of the cellular mechanism to compact and regulate the activities of DNA and importantly this plays a role in protecting our genetic material from damage.
The integrity and stability of the genetic information in DNA is essential to life, however, it is continuously being damaged, either as a result of normal cellular processes or via the environment. Each cell receives thousands of DNA lesions per day. If these lesions are not repaired or are repaired incorrectly, they can lead to mutations or genome aberrations that can threaten cell or organism viability and ultimately cause cancer. In order to detect and repair the various forms of DNA damage, cells have developed a mechanism known as the DNA damage response. H2AX is an important component of the DNA damage response mechanism.
We aim to look at the abundance of H2AX protein in different breast cancer cell lines, to identify if there is a link between the level of this variant in breast cancer patients with different disease subtypes. By analysing both healthy breast tissue cell lines and breast cancer cell lines, we hope to gain better understanding in the role of this histone, which could open up opportunities for improved screening and treatment plans of breast cancer patients. Through the analysis of H2AX, we also hope to improve the technique for measuring protein levels in biopsies.
