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Related Concept Videos

Histone Modification02:32

Histone Modification

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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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Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

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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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The Nucleosome Core Particle01:12

The Nucleosome Core Particle

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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...
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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
The writer...
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Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

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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...
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Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

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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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Multifunctional histone variants in genome function.

Lee H Wong1, David J Tremethick2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Nature Reviews. Genetics
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Summary

Histone variants are crucial for genome organization and function. New research shows these variants have diverse roles in gene expression, DNA repair, and replication, impacting cellular functions.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Histones are fundamental to eukaryotic chromatin structure and genome regulation.
  • Histone variants dynamically alter chromatin properties, influencing genomic functions.
  • Previous understanding limited histone variant roles to specific genomic functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted roles of histone variants in genome regulation.
  • To update the understanding of histone variants' involvement in DNA-dependent processes.
  • To elucidate the connection between chromatin dynamics and cellular functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of recent research findings.
  • Analysis of studies on histone variant incorporation and function.
  • Conceptual framework development based on emerging evidence.

Main Results:

  • Histone variants play multifaceted roles beyond previously known specific functions.
  • These variants are involved in gene expression, replication, repair, and genome maintenance.
  • A new understanding of the interplay between chromatin and DNA processes has emerged.

Conclusions:

  • Histone variants are key regulators of diverse genomic processes.
  • Their dynamic roles are critical for both normal and abnormal cellular functions.
  • This highlights the intricate connection between chromatin structure and genome activity.