Histone acetylation beyond promoters: long-range acetylation patterns in the chromatin world
1Department of Pharmacology, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Program, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 13090 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Abstract:
Histone acetylation is an important regulatory mechanism that controls transcription and diverse nuclear processes. While great progress has been made in understanding how localized acetylation and deacetylation control promoter activity, virtually nothing is known about the consequences of acetylation throughout entire chromosomal regions. An increasing number of genes have been found to reside in large chromatin domains that are controlled by regulatory elements many kilobases away. Recent studies have shown that broad histone acetylation patterns are hallmarks of chromatin domains. The purpose of this review is to discuss how such patterns are established and their implications for regulating gene expression.
Related Concept Videos
02:10The Nucleosome Core Particle
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
02:32Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
02:25Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
03:17Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
02:32Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
01:12The Nucleosome Core Particle
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...