Plant histone acetyltransferase complexes: Conserved and plant-specific characteristics

Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes are pivotal regulators of chromatin dynamics, orchestrating transcriptional programs essential for plant development and stress responses in plants. This review synthesizes recent advances in the classification, subunit composition, and functional mechanisms of plant HAT complexes, emphasizing plant-specific characteristics compared to the conserved architecture of HAT complexes. By integrating genetic, biochemical, and structural studies, we delineate how these complexes modulate histone acetylation and coordinate with other chromatin modifications to regulate gene expression. Further research should focus on deciphering the spatiotemporal regulation of HAT complex composition and histone acetylation, and determining the targeting mechanisms of these complexes.