Premium
Histone H2A/H2B chaperones: from molecules to chromatin‐based functions in plant growth and development
Author(s) -
Zhou Wangbin,
Zhu Yan,
Dong Aiwu,
Shen WenHui
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.12830
Subject(s) - nucleosome , chromatin , histone , histone code , histone methylation , microbiology and biotechnology , histone h2a , biology , histone modifying enzymes , histone methyltransferase , chromatin remodeling , genetics , histone octamer , histone h1 , computational biology , dna , dna methylation , gene , gene expression
Summary Nucleosomal core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) must be assembled, replaced or exchanged to preserve or modify chromatin organization and function according to cellular needs. Histone chaperones escort histones, and play key functions during nucleosome assembly/disassembly and in nucleosome structure configuration. Because of their location at the periphery of nucleosome, histone H2A–H2B dimers are remarkably dynamic. Here we focus on plant histone H2A/H2B chaperones, particularly members of the NUCLEOSOME ASSEMBLY PROTEIN ‐1 ( NAP 1) and FACILITATES CHROMATIN TRANSCRIPTION ( FACT ) families, discussing their molecular features, properties, regulation and function. Covalent histone modifications (e.g. ubiquitination, phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation) and H2A variants (H2A.Z, H2A.X and H2A.W) are also discussed in view of their crucial importance in modulating nucleosome organization and function. We further discuss roles of NAP 1 and FACT in chromatin‐based processes, such as transcription, DNA replication and repair. Specific functions of NAP 1 and FACT are evident when their roles are considered with respect to regulation of plant growth and development and in plant responses to environmental stresses. Future major challenges remain in order to define in more detail the overlapping and specific roles of various members of the NAP 1 family as well as differences and similarities between NAP 1 and FACT family members, and to identify and characterize their partners as well as new families of chaperones to understand histone variant incorporation and chromatin target specificity.