Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026

08:12
Global Level Quantification of Histone Post-Translational Modifications in a 3D Cell Culture Model of Hepatic Tissue
Published on: May 5, 2022
Kinetics of histone protein glycation
Summary
Histone proteins undergo glucose glycation with distinct kinetics. H1 linker histone shows exponential glucose uptake, while H2-H4 core and total histones exhibit two-phase reactions, impacting protein electromobility.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Protein Chemistry
Background:
- Histone proteins are crucial for DNA packaging and gene regulation.
- Glycation, the non-enzymatic addition of sugars to proteins, can alter protein function.
- Understanding histone glycation kinetics is vital for cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the kinetic patterns of glucose glycation in different histone fractions.
- To correlate glucose uptake with changes in histone electromobility.
- To elucidate the underlying protein interactions driving glycation kinetics.
Main Methods:
- Studying the time-dependent uptake of glucose by histone proteins.
- Analyzing the electromobility of histone fractions post-glucose uptake.
- Applying kinetic modeling to interpret experimental data.
Main Results:
- Histone H1 linker histone displayed exponential glucose uptake, reaching saturation.
- Histones H2-H4 core and total histone fractions showed biphasic glycation courses.
- Changes in protein electromobility were observed correlating with glucose uptake.
Conclusions:
- Histone glycation kinetics vary significantly between different histone types.
- Protein-protein interactions likely influence the observed glycation patterns.
- Electromobility shifts provide insights into glycation-induced structural changes.
Related Concept Videos
Nucleosome Remodeling
Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
Protein Glycosylation
Glycosylation, the most common post-translational modification for proteins, serves diverse functions. Adding sugars to proteins makes the proteins more resistant to proteolytic digestion. Glycosylated proteins can act as markers and receptors to promote cell-cell adhesion. Additionally, they have many essential quality control functions in the cell, such as correct protein folding and facilitating transport of misfolded proteins to the cytosol, which can be degraded.
Glycosylation occurs in...
Glycosylation occurs in...
Oligosaccharide Assembly
Protein glycosylation starts in the ER lumen and continues in the Golgi apparatus. Glycosyltransferases catalyze the addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins. Usually, these enzymes add sugars to the hydroxyl groups of selected serine or threonine residues to form O-linked glycans or the amino groups of asparagine residues to form N-linked glycans. Different positions on the same polypeptide chain can contain differently linked glycans.
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
The Nucleosome Core Particle
Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
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...
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...

