Quantification of γH2AX Foci in Response to Ionising Radiation

Summary

Quantification of DNA double-strand streaks using γH2AX formation as a molecular marker has become an invaluable tool in radiation biology. Here we demonstrate the use of an immunofluorescence assay for quantification of γH2AX foci after exposure of cells to radiation.

Abstract

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are induced by either endogenous metabolic processes or by exogenous sources, are one of the most critical DNA lesions with respect to survival and preservation of genomic integrity. An early response to the induction of DSBs is phosphorylation of the H2A histone variant, H2AX, at the serine-139 residue, in the highly conserved C-terminal SQEY motif, forming γH2AX¹. Following induction of DSBs, H2AX is rapidly phosphorylated by the phosphatidyl-inosito 3-kinase (PIKK) family of proteins, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), DNA-protein kinase catalytic subunit and ATM and RAD3-related (ATR)². Typically, only a few base-pairs (bp) are implicated in a DSB, however, there is significant signal amplification, given the importance of chromatin modifications in DNA damage signalling and repair. Phosphorylation of H2AX mediated predominantly by ATM spreads to adjacent areas of chromatin, affecting approximately 0.03% of total cellular H2AX per DSB^2,3. This corresponds to phosphorylation of approximately 2000 H2AX molecules spanning ~2 Mbp regions of chromatin surrounding the site of the DSB and results in the formation of discrete γH2AX foci which can be easily visualized and quantitated by immunofluorescence microscopy². The loss of γH2AX at DSB reflects repair, however, there is some controversy as to what defines complete repair of DSBs; it has been proposed that rejoining of both strands of DNA is adequate however, it has also been suggested that re-instatement of the original chromatin state of compaction is necessary^4-8. The disappearence of γH2AX involves at least in part, dephosphorylation by phosphatases, phosphatase 2A and phosphatase 4C^5,6. Further, removal of γH2AX by redistribution involving histone exchange with H2A.Z has been implicated^7,8. Importantly, the quantitative analysis of γH2AX foci has led to a wide range of applications in medical and nuclear research. Here, we demonstrate the most commonly used immunofluorescence method for evaluation of initial DNA damage by detection and quantitation of γH2AX foci in γ-irradiated adherent human keratinocytes⁹.

Protocol

Cell Preparation

1. Human keratinocytes (FEP-1811) were grown in Keratinocyte-Serum Free Medium (K-SFM; Invitrogen) supplemented with epidermal growth factor, bovine pituitary extract and 20 μg/ml gentamicin, at 37°C and 5% CO₂.
2. A single cell suspension was prepared by detaching with trypsin-EDTA (0.05% v/v)
3. Cells were seeded in 8-well Lab Tek II microchamber slides (10,000 cells/well) and slides were incubated for 3 days at 37°C and 5% CO₂.

Irradiation

1. Cells were irradiated on ice with 2 Gy using a ¹³⁷Cs source (Gammacell 1000 Elite irradiator; N....

Discussion

Following exposure to ionising radiation (γ-rays), γH2AX foci form rapidly and foci numbers reach a maximum between 30-60 minutes². Therefore, our 1 hour post-irradiation time point reflects initial DSB formation. We have used the clinically relevant radiation dose of 2 Gy for our experiment. However, the method can be used for radiation doses up to 4 Gy for detection of initial DSB formation; significant overlap of foci precludes accurate quantitation at higher doses. Higher radiation doses may be.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Keratinocyte-Serum Free Medium (K-SFM)	Media	Invitrogen	17005042	Keratinocyte media supplemented with human recombinant Epidermal Growth Factor 1-53 (EGF 1-53), and Bovine Pituitary Extract (BPE).
Lab Tek lI Chamber Slides (8-well)	Chamber Slides	Nalge Nunc international	NUN154534
Coverslips (22x50mm)	Coverslips	Menzel-Glaser	CS2250100
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)		Sigma-Aldrich	A7906	BSA (1%) is used to block any non-specific antibody binding. Primary and secondary antibodies are diluted in BSA.
PBS (without Ca2+ and Mg2+)		Invitrogen	17-517Q
0.5% Trypsin-EDTA x10		Invitrogen	15400-054	Trypsin-EDTA (0.05%) used to detach cells from culture flasks.
Triton X-100	Reagent	Sigma-Aldrich	T8787	Triton X-100 (0.1%) used to permeabilise cells.
Paraformaldehyde	Reagent	Sigma-Aldrich	158127	Paraformaldehyde (4%) used to fix cells.
Mouse monoclonal anti-phospho histone-H2AX antibody	Primary Antibody	EMD Millipore	16193	Dilution of primary antibody (1:500), in 1% BSA.
Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-mouse IgG (H+L)	Secondary Antibody	Invitrogen	11029	Dilution of secondary antibody (1:500), in 1% BSA.
TOPRO3	DNA Stain	Invitrogen	T3605	DNA stain commonly used: 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). Can only be used with microscopes with the appropriate excitation laser.
ProLong Gold	Anti-fade solution	Invitrogen	P36930	Refractive index of 1.42 at 20°C.
Tissue Culture Flask, Vented Cap	Culture Flask	BD Biosciences	353112
Tissue Culture Dish (150x25mm)	Petridish	BD Biosciences	353025
Coplin Jar, glass		Grale Scientific P/L	1771-OG
Staining Trough		Grale Scientific P/L	V1991.99
Gammacell 1000 Elite Irradiator	Gamma Irradiator	Nordion International Inc.
Zeiss LSM 510 Meta Confocal	Confocal Microscope
Metamorph	Software for Imaging analysis	Molecular Devices