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Updated: May 12, 2025

In Vitro Characterization of Histone Chaperones using Analytical, Pull-Down and Chaperoning Assays
Published on: December 29, 2021
Structure and function of histone chaperones in replication-coupled chromatin assembly
1State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Abstract:
Eukaryotic cell divisions pass on genetic and epigenetic information from parental to daughter cells through replication of the chromatin, which needs to be reestablished following DNA replication, as its building block, the nucleosome, is disrupted by the passage of the DNA replication fork. This replication-coupled (RC) nucleosome assembly process takes place in distinct pathways depending on whether newly synthesized or parental histones are used. This review highlights recent progress in structural and biochemical studies of RC nucleosome assembly, focusing on the roles of histone chaperones in both de novo assembly of nucleosomes from newly synthesized histones and the recycling of parental histones. We also discuss the interactions between histone chaperones and replisome components that govern the coupling of nucleosome assembly to chromatin replication. Finally, we offer our perspective on future efforts in advancing this important research direction.
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