Epigenetic codes for heterochromatin formation and silencing: rounding up the usual suspects.
Recent results from diverse organisms point to a self-reinforcing network of interactions among the three best-characterized covalent modifications that mark heterochromatin: histone hypoacetylation, histone H3-Lys9 methylation, and cytosine methylation. These modification systems suggest a mechanistic basis for spreading of heterochromatin over large domains and for stable epigenetic inheritance of the silent state. All three modifications used in packaging heterochromatin are also used in stable silencing of euchromatic genes.
Richards
Eric J
EJ
Department of Biology, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Elgin
Sarah C R
SC
D000107:Acetylation; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5