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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
10:28
Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
An epichromatin epitope: persistence in the cell cycle and conservation in evolution
Ada L Olins1, Markus Langhans, Marc Monestier
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New England, Portland, ME USA. ted proteins (ARPs), a
Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)
|June 8, 2011
Summary
A novel "epichromatin" layer on chromatin surfaces is identified, potentially explaining how nuclear architecture and gene expression memory are maintained across cell divisions. This conserved structure aids in nuclear envelope reformation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cell division cycles involve dynamic disruption and reformation of nuclear architecture.
- Cellular memory of nuclear architecture and gene expression is observed across generations.
- Species and tissue-specific features of nuclear and mitotic chromosome structure exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying chromatin structure properties that determine conserved nuclear architecture features.
- To identify specific chromatin structures involved in maintaining nuclear organization and cellular memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse autoimmune anti-nucleosome monoclonal antibody (PL2-6).
- Employed deconvolution immunofluorescence microscopy.
- Examined chromatin structure in mammalian, invertebrate, and plant systems.
Main Results:
- Identified a unique epitope on the exterior chromatin surface of interphase nuclei and mitotic chromosomes.
- This epitope involves a ternary complex of histones H2A, H2B, and DNA.
- The identified surface chromatin region was named 'epichromatin'.
Conclusions:
- Proposed the 'epichromatin hypothesis', suggesting a conserved conformation of epichromatin.
- Epichromatin may facilitate interaction with the reforming post-mitotic nuclear envelope.
- This interaction could enable the rapid restoration of interphase nuclear architecture.
Related Concept Videos
03:17Inheritance 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...
01:01Euchromatin
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...
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...
01:01Euchromatin
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...
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...
02:51Multi-species Conserved Sequences
Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
02:38Heterochromatin
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...
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...
02:38Heterochromatin
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...
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...