title: The essential histone variant H2A.Z regulates the equilibrium between different chromatin conformational states.
abstract: Explaining the determinants involved in regulating the equilibrium between different chromatin structural states is fundamental to understanding differential gene expression. Histone variant H2A.Z is essential to chromatin architecture in higher eukaryotes but its role has not yet been explained. We show here that H2A.Z facilitates the intramolecular folding of nucleosomal arrays while simultaneously inhibiting the formation of highly condensed structures that result from intermolecular association. This makes a case for H2A.Z playing a fundamental role in creating unique chromatin domains poised for transcriptional activation. These results provide new insights into understanding how chromatin fiber dynamics can be altered by core histone variants to potentially regulate genomic function.
authors.affiliation: The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, P.O. Box 334, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia.
authors.forename: Jun Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Karolin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: David John
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tremethick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000235:genetics; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000235:genetics; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D006657:Histones; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; D012492:Salts; D029867:Xenopus Proteins