Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Deciphering Molecular Mechanism of Histone Assembly by DNA Curtain Technique
Published on: March 9, 2022
Structural plasticity of histones H3-H4 facilitates their allosteric exchange between RbAp48 and ASF1
Wei Zhang1, Marek Tyl, Richard Ward
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract:
The mechanisms by which histones are disassembled and reassembled into nucleosomes and chromatin structure during DNA replication, repair and transcription are poorly understood. A better understanding of the processes involved is, however, crucial if we are to understand whether and how histone variants and post-translationally modified histones are inherited in an epigenetic manner. To this end we have studied the interaction of the histone H3-H4 complex with the human retinoblastoma-associated protein RbAp48 and their exchange with a second histone chaperone, anti-silencing function protein 1 (ASF1). Exchange of histones H3-H4 between these two histone chaperones has a central role in the assembly of new nucleosomes, and we show here that the H3-H4 complex has an unexpected structural plasticity, which is important for this exchange.
Related Concept Videos
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
Nucleosome Remodeling
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
