γ-H2AX is present at mouse meiotic kinetochores

The histone variant H2AX phosphorylated on serine 139, named γ-H2AX, is a canonical DNA double-strand breaks marker. During mammalian meiotic prophase I, γ-H2AX participates in meiotic recombination, meiotic sex chromosome inactivation and meiotic silencing of unsynapsed chromatin. In this study, we have analyzed the distribution of γ-H2AX during male mouse meiosis by immunofluorescence on spread and squashed spermatocytes. We have found that γ-H2AX locates at the inner kinetochore plate of meiotic kinetochores in both meiotic divisions. Therefore our results, for the first time, uncover a novel role for γ-H2AX at mammalian meiotic kinetochores.