Hydrogen Peroxide induces resistance to DNA damage in a localization and p53 dependent manner.

Organisms need to be able to adapt to a changing environment in order to survive. The adaptive response invoked by a low dose of a stressor resulting in resistance to high levels of that stressor is known as hormesis and can even lead to lifespan extension of organisms. The exact mechanisms underlying stress-induced hormesis are unknown, although multiple studies pose mitochondria-derived Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS, e.g. H2O2) as an important contributor. Here we used chemo-genetic H2O2 production as a model to study ROS-dependent adaptive responses in a localization-dependent manner. We found that brief, sublethal H2O2 production at the nucleosomes provides p53-dependent resistance to a s