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Updated: May 29, 2026

In Vitro Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination Assays of Nucleosomal Histones
Published on: July 25, 2019
Flickin' the ubiquitin switch: the role of H2B ubiquitylation in development
Duncan Edward Wright1, Chen-Yi Wang, Cheng-Fu Kao
1Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The reversible ubiquitylation of histone H2B has long been implicated in transcriptional activation and gene silencing. However, many questions regarding its regulation and effects on chromatin structure remain unanswered. In addition, while several studies have uncovered an involvement of this modification in the control of certain developmental processes, a more general understanding of its requirement is lacking. Herein, we present a broad overview of the pathways known to be regulated by H2B ubiquitylation, while drawing parallels between findings in disparate organisms, in order to facilitate continued delineation of its spatiotemporal role in development. Finally, we integrate the findings of recent studies into how H2B ubiquitylation affects chromatin, and cast an eye over emerging areas for future research.
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