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Antagonistic gene control through histone H2A and H2B ubiquitylation
Author(s) -
Verrijzer Peter
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.660.14
Subject(s) - histone h2b , histone h2a , histone , histone methyltransferase , gene silencing , biology , ubiquitin , histone methylation , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription (linguistics) , histone h3 , regulation of gene expression , genetics , gene , gene expression , dna methylation , linguistics , philosophy
Maintenance of gene transcription status plays a critical role in development and disease. Here, we will discuss the antagonistic functions of histone H2A and H2B ubiquitylation. Whereas histone H2A ubiquitylation is associated with gene silencing, histone H2B ubiquitylation correlates with transcription activation. We recently identified dRAF, a novel Polycomb group silencing complex that harbors dKDM2 as a key dRAF subunit that plays a pivotal role in a trans‐histone pathway involving the removal of an active histone H3 methyl mark and formation of the repressive H2Aub mark during PcG silencing. New results on the functioning of dRAF and related complexes will be presented. In addition, we will discuss developmental gene regulation by the GMP synthetase (GMPS) and Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 (USP7), which directs histone H2Bub de‐ubiquitylation. Both the metabolic enzyme GMPS and the DUB USP7 play remarkably specific roles in the transcriptional regulation of neural development of the optical system. We will discuss the impact of histone ubiquitylation on gene‐specific transcription control.