[HTML][HTML] Histone acetylation: a switch between repressive and permissive chromatin

A Eberharter, PB Becker - EMBO reports, 2002 - embopress.org
A Eberharter, PB Becker
EMBO reports, 2002embopress.org
The organization of eukaryotic chromatin has a major impact on all nuclear processes
involving DNA substrates. Gene expression is affected by the positioning of individual
nucleosomes relative to regulatory sequence elements, by the folding of the nucleosomal
fiber into higher‐order structures and by the compartmentalization of functional domains
within the nucleus. Because site‐specific acetylation of nucleosomal histones influences all
three aspects of chromatin organization, it is central to the switch between permissive and …
Abstract
The organization of eukaryotic chromatin has a major impact on all nuclear processes involving DNA substrates. Gene expression is affected by the positioning of individual nucleosomes relative to regulatory sequence elements, by the folding of the nucleosomal fiber into higher‐order structures and by the compartmentalization of functional domains within the nucleus. Because site‐specific acetylation of nucleosomal histones influences all three aspects of chromatin organization, it is central to the switch between permissive and repressive chromatin structure. The targeting of enzymes that modulate the histone acetylation status of chromatin, in synergy with the effects mediated by other chromatin remodeling factors, is central to gene regulation.
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