H1-2
H1-2 (histone H1.2, also known as H1c, H1s-1, H1F2 and HIST1H1C) is a linker histone that binds DNA between nucleosomes and helps compact chromatin into higher-order fibres. It also acts as a histone reader and a regulator of splicing and transcription. Browse Assay Genie's current range of H1-2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
H1-2 binds to linker DNA between nucleosomes, forming the macromolecular structure known as the chromatin fibre. It is required for the condensation of nucleosome chains into higher-order structured fibres. Compared with other histone H1 variants, H1-2 has an essential role in nucleosome condensation: its absence leads to global chromatin decompaction, which is not seen when other H1 variants are depleted.
Beyond compaction, H1-2 acts as a histone reader that specifically recognises and binds histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Histones H1 also promote formation of the H3K27me3 mark by the PRC2/EED-EZH2 complex, possibly by helping restore H3K27me3 after replication. Together with histone H1-3, H1-2 regulates splicing, particularly exon skipping and intron retention. It has a high affinity for exons and influences splicing by affecting RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) elongation. It also regulates individual gene transcription through chromatin remodelling, nucleosome spacing and DNA methylation.
The H1-2 gene belongs to the H1 histones gene group and the histone H1/H5 family. It is intronless and encodes a replication-dependent histone. Its transcripts lack polyA tails and instead carry a palindromic termination element. The gene sits in the large histone gene cluster on chromosome 6. Earlier names include histone cluster 1 H1 family member c and H1 histone family, member 2. UniProt lists the protein in the nucleus, nucleolus and chromosome, and a mouse ortholog named H1-2 is recorded.
H1-2 is needed to condense nucleosome chains into higher-order fibres, and its loss causes global chromatin decompaction.
H1-2 reads H3K27me3, and H1 histones promote this mark through the PRC2/EED-EZH2 complex.
With H1-3, H1-2 regulates exon skipping and intron retention by affecting RNA polymerase II elongation.
H1-2 regulates individual genes through chromatin remodelling, nucleosome spacing and DNA methylation.
H1-2 is a linker histone that binds DNA between nucleosomes and is required to condense nucleosome chains into higher-order chromatin fibres. It also reads H3K27me3, helps regulate splicing together with H1-3, and influences gene transcription through chromatin remodelling, nucleosome spacing and DNA methylation.
H1-2 is also called histone H1.2, H1c, H1s-1, H1F2 and HIST1H1C. Earlier HGNC names include histone cluster 1 H1 family member c and H1 histone family, member 2. The current HGNC name is H1.2 linker histone, cluster member.
A mouse ortholog, also named H1-2, is recorded. The human gene is intronless and encodes a replication-dependent histone, with transcripts that lack polyA tails and end in a palindromic element. It lies in the large histone gene cluster on chromosome 6. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other linker histones, histone H3 and PRC2 complex components relevant to chromatin research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P16403; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.