Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Histone Modification

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,...

Histone Modification

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,...

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

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...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Identification of long non-coding RNAs involved in leukemogenesis and venetoclax response in acute myeloid leukemia through functional CRISPR-dCas9 interference screens.

Non-coding RNA research·2026

Same author

Interplay between cohesin and TORC1 links chromosome segregation and gene expression to environmental changes.

eLife·2026

Same author

Decoding the actionable potential of ribosome biogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia.

Haematologica·2026

Same author

Targeting dysregulated epigenetic and transcription factor networks in <i>KMT2A</i>-rearranged AML using iPSC models.

Blood neoplasia·2025

Same author

Disease-specific epigenetic deregulation of enhancers, transposons, and polycomb targets in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Genome medicine·2025

Same author

MALNC: a new mutant NPM1/IDH2<sup>R140</sup> and PML-RARA-associated lncRNA with impact on AML cell proliferation, maturation and drug response.

Cancer gene therapy·2025

Same journal

Cumulative Contents.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2020

Same journal

Molecular Basis of Disease Cumulative Contents.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2020

Same journal

General Subjects Cumulative Contents.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2020

Same journal

Erratum to 'on the role of exchangeable hydrogen bonds for the kinetics of P680<sup>+·</sup> Q<sub>A</sub> <sup>-·</sup> formation and P680<sup>+·</sup> Pheo<sup>-·</sup> recombination in photosystem II' [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1276 (1996) 35-44].

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2019

Same journal

Oligomeric state of the light-harvesting complexes B800-850 and B875 from purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus in detergent solution.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2019

Same journal

Regulation of pigment content and enzyme activity in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. Mac grown in continuous light, a light-dark photoperiod, or darkness.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2019

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Extraction of Histones from Clinical Specimens for Epigenetic Profiling by Mass Spectrometry

Extraction of Histones from Clinical Specimens for Epigenetic Profiling by Mass Spectrometry

Published on: November 21, 2025

Histone modification patterns and epigenetic codes.

Andreas Lennartsson¹, Karl Ekwall

¹Department of Biosciences and Medical Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, NOVUM, Huddinge, Sweden.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta

|January 27, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Histone modifications on eukaryotic DNA regulate gene expression and cellular processes. Genome-wide studies reveal patterns influencing cell differentiation and cancer development.

More Related Videos

Complete Workflow for Analysis of Histone Post-translational Modifications Using Bottom-up Mass Spectrometry: From Histone Extraction to Data Analysis

Complete Workflow for Analysis of Histone Post-translational Modifications Using Bottom-up Mass Spectrometry: From Histone Extraction to Data Analysis

Published on: May 17, 2016

Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis

Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis

Published on: October 18, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Extraction of Histones from Clinical Specimens for Epigenetic Profiling by Mass Spectrometry

Extraction of Histones from Clinical Specimens for Epigenetic Profiling by Mass Spectrometry

Published on: November 21, 2025

Complete Workflow for Analysis of Histone Post-translational Modifications Using Bottom-up Mass Spectrometry: From Histone Extraction to Data Analysis

Complete Workflow for Analysis of Histone Post-translational Modifications Using Bottom-up Mass Spectrometry: From Histone Extraction to Data Analysis

Published on: May 17, 2016

Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis

Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis

Published on: October 18, 2024

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Epigenetics
Genomics

Background:

Eukaryotic DNA is organized by histone proteins into chromatin.
Histone N-terminal tails undergo post-translational modifications.
These modifications form 'histone codes' regulating DNA accessibility and gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

To review genome-wide studies of histone modification patterns.
To discuss the influence of these patterns on cell differentiation and carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

Systematic genome-wide studies.
Analysis of histone modification patterns across different biological models.

Main Results:

Identified diverse histone modification patterns.
Demonstrated the role of these patterns in cell differentiation.
Linked specific patterns to carcinogenesis.

Conclusions:

Histone modifications are crucial epigenetic regulators.
Understanding histone codes is vital for deciphering cellular processes and diseases like cancer.