Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
09:43
Purification of H3 and H4 Histone Proteins and the Quantification of Acetylated Histone Marks in Cells and Brain Tissue
Published on: November 30, 2018
Unique functional roles for class I and class II histone deacetylases in central nervous system development and
Michael J Morris1, Lisa M Monteggia
1Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA.
Summary
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes impact brain function, with specific isoforms playing distinct roles in development and adulthood. Targeting individual HDACs offers therapeutic potential but faces challenges in developing selective inhibitors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Non-specific inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes shows benefits in cancer, cognitive function, and neurodegeneration.
- HDACs are a family of enzymes crucial for gene regulation.
- Understanding individual HDAC isoform roles is key to therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the distinct roles of individual HDAC isoforms in brain function during development and in adulthood.
- To highlight the differing expression patterns and signaling pathways of Class I and Class II HDACs.
- To discuss the challenges and potential of developing isoform-specific HDAC inhibitors for central nervous system disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on HDAC isoform function in the brain.
- Analysis of distinct cellular and subcellular expression patterns of HDACs.
- Examination of signaling pathways influenced by different HDAC classes.
Main Results:
- Class I and Class II HDACs display unique expression profiles and signaling mechanisms.
- Manipulation of individual HDACs in the brain leads to specific phenotypic outcomes.
- Pharmacological inhibitors targeting individual HDACs are currently difficult to develop.
Conclusions:
- Individual HDAC isoforms have specific functions in the developing and adult brain.
- Developing selective inhibitors for HDACs is crucial for unlocking their therapeutic potential in neurological and psychiatric conditions.
- Further research into isoform-specific HDAC modulation is warranted for CNS applications.
More Related Videos
10:09Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark
Published on: January 26, 2018
07:10Quantification of Global Histone Post Translational Modifications Using Intranuclear Flow Cytometry in Isolated Mouse Brain Microglia
Published on: September 15, 2023
Related Concept Videos
02:32Histone 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,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
02:32Histone 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,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (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...
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...
01:12The Nucleosome Core Particle
Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
02:10The Nucleosome Core Particle
Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
02:25Spreading 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...
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...