[Chromatin structure, heterochromatin, and transposable genetic elements--are they from one team?].
Gene content proved to be less than expected in completely sequenced eukaryotic genomes. Moreover, gene number differs only three times between such distant organisms as human and Drosophila. Hence it is likely that the essential functional and structural differences between the two species mostly depend on the regulation of gene activity than on the set and quality of genes themselves. New data demonstrate that changes in chromatin structure play a greater role in the fine gene activity regulation than considered before. R.B. Khesin had foresaw many chromatin functions that only recently came to be recognized. Khesin was interested in genome inconstancy over his last years. A higher content of several important chromosomal proteins was recently revealed in chromatin of transposable genetic elements (TGE). The possible role of TGE in chromatin organization in the nucleus is considered.
Leĭbovich
B A
BA
Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. baleibo@biology.wustl.edu
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D006570:Heterochromatin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases