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Keeping fingers crossed: heterochromatin spreading through interdigitation of nucleosome arrays
Author(s) -
Grigoryev Sergei A
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(04)00258-3
Subject(s) - nucleosome , heterochromatin , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , evolutionary biology , dna , chromatin , genetics
Interphase eukaryotic nuclei contain diffuse euchromatin and condensed heterochromatin. Current textbook models suggest that chromatin condensation occurs via accordion‐type compaction of nucleosome zigzag chains. Recent studies have revealed several structural aspects that distinguish the highly compact state of condensed heterochromatin. These include an extensive lateral self‐association of chromatin fibers, prominent nucleosome linker ‘stems’, and special protein factors that promote chromatin self‐association. Here I review the molecular and structural determinants of chromatin compaction and discuss how heterochromatin spreading may be mediated by lateral self‐association of zigzag nucleosome arrays.