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Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

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Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3...
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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.
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Histone Modification02:32

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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
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Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

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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
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Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

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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...
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Histone variants and cellular plasticity.

Stephen W Santoro1, Catherine Dulac2

  • 1Neuroscience Program, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|August 25, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Histone variants, which replace canonical histones, are key regulators of cell plasticity. These variants are essential for controlling cell type diversity during development and in the adult nervous system.

Keywords:
braincellular plasticitydevelopmentepigeneticshistone variantsneuron

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cellular diversity in vertebrates results from genetic blueprints interacting with developmental and extrinsic signals.
  • Chromatin, a complex of DNA and proteins, regulates gene expression at the interface of cellular signals and DNA.
  • Nucleosomes, the basic chromatin units, involve DNA wrapped around histone proteins crucial for gene regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight recent findings on the role of histone variants in cellular plasticity.
  • To emphasize the importance of histone variants during development and in the adult nervous system.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current research and literature on histone variants.
  • Analysis of evidence linking histone variants to cellular transitions and plasticity.

Main Results:

  • Canonical histones are frequently replaced by protein variants during cellular transitions.
  • Histone variants play essential roles in controlling cellular plasticity.
  • These roles are evident during both embryonic development and in the adult nervous system.

Conclusions:

  • Histone variants are critical regulators of cellular plasticity.
  • Understanding histone variant function is key to comprehending development and nervous system function.