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Novel types and sites of histone modifications emerge as players in the transcriptional regulation contest
Author(s) -
Kebede Adam F.,
Schneider Robert,
Daujat Sylvain
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.13047
Subject(s) - histone octamer , nucleosome , histone code , histone , chromatin , histone methylation , chromatosome , microbiology and biotechnology , linker dna , histone h1 , histone h2a , biology , genetics , dna , dna methylation , gene , gene expression
N‐terminal tails of histones are easily accessible outside of the nucleosomal core particle and post‐translational modifications ( PTM s) of these tails have been the focus of attention in the past 15–20 years. By recruiting (or excluding) specific readers, histone modifications can regulate chromatin dynamics and, by extension, DNA ‐dependent processes. However, until very recently, the direct impact of histone PTM s on nucleosome structure and thus on chromatin function has remained somewhat elusive. Recent findings of novel sites and types of histone PTM s located within the globular domain of histones and, in particular, on the lateral surface of the histone octamer have changed this. As a result of their structurally important location in close proximity to the DNA molecule, this new class of histone PTM s can have a direct impact on chromatin function. Depending on their precise position at the nucleosome lateral surface (e.g. near the DNA entry/exit sites or in the dyad region), histone PTM s can regulate nucleosome structure and/or stability differently. We review recent progress on how histone PTM s can influence DNA unwrapping and/or nucleosome disassembly and shed light on how these types of novel modifications contribute mechanistically to the regulation of transcriptional activity.