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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,...

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...

Heterochromatin

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...

Euchromatin

Euchromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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

Chatting histone modifications in mammals.

Annalisa Izzo¹, Robert Schneider

¹MPI for Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany.

Briefings in Functional Genomics

|January 27, 2011

Summary

Histone methylation and demethylation regulate dynamic chromatin states. This review explores the enzymes involved and the cross-talk between histone modifications, crucial for gene regulation.

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Epigenetics
Chromatin Biology

Background:

Eukaryotic chromatin structure is dynamic, switching between open (active) and compacted (silenced) states.
Post-translational modifications of histones are key regulators of these chromatin states and influence gene-dependent processes.
Histone methylation is a well-characterized modification occurring on arginine and lysine residues.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the roles of histone methylation and demethylation in regulating chromatin.
To discuss the enzymes responsible for establishing and removing histone methylation marks.
To explore novel concepts regarding the interdependence of various histone modification marks and their cross-talk mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on histone methylation and demethylation.

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Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis

Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis

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Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of Histone Modifications from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of Histone Modifications from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 29, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of Histone Modifications from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of Histone Modifications from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 29, 2017

Analysis of enzymes involved in setting histone marks.

Discussion of molecular mechanisms governing cross-talk between histone modifications.

Main Results:

Histone methylation plays a critical role in defining specific functional chromatin environments.
Histone methylation can influence other histone modifications like acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination.
Novel insights into the interdependence of histone modification marks are presented.

Conclusions:

Histone methylation and demethylation are central to chromatin dynamics and gene regulation.
Understanding the cross-talk between histone modifications is essential for deciphering chromatin-based processes.
The enzymes governing histone methylation and demethylation are key targets for further research.