H3Ser10 histone phosphorylation in plant cell division

Histones, the main protein components of the chromatin, are exposed to posttranslational modifications that influence on peculiarities of structural and functional organization of the chromosomes. Phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination are the most spread posttranslational modifications. Phosphorylation of histones mainly happens on N-terminal domains of serines (Ser) and threonines (Thr) and is involved in regulation of different processes in mitotic and meiotic divisions. To date, it was demonstrated that this type of modification is required for the activation of transcription, repair of DNA breaks, and recombination, as well as for the condensation and divergence of chromosomes. Among the four main histones, the presence of a larger number of modification sites is typical for the H3 histone. In plants, H3 histone phosphorylation at serine in positions 10 and 28 and at threonine in positions 3, 11, 32, and 133 are the most well studied. The data known to date on the spatiotemporal distribution of H3 phosphorylation at serine in position 10 (phH3Ser10) in the mitosis and meiosis of different plant species are collected in the review. For most species, phosphorylation of only pericentromeric regions in mitosis and the second division of meiosis and along the entire length of the chromosomes in the first meiotic division is typical. However, there are exceptions in the phH3Ser10 distribution in mosses and in the Cestrum genus, as well as in species with holocentric chromosomes. Controversial data on the phH3Ser10 distribution in mitosis and meiosis in the same species are found. The functional significance of phH3Ser10 in the cellular division in plants is associated with the activity of the centromere, the cohesion of the centromeres and sister chromatids, and chromosome segregation. The involvement of candidates of kinases and phosphatases known to date in the dynamics of H3Ser10 phosphorylation is discussed. The review provides an overview of the role of phH3Ser10 modifications in the chromosome division and segregation in mitosis and meiosis.