Structures of protein domains that create or recognize histone modifications.
DNA is packed together with histone proteins in cell nuclei to form a compact structure called chromatin. Chromatin represents a scaffold for many genetic events and shows varying degrees of condensation, including a relatively open form (euchromatin) and a highly condensed form (heterochromatin). Enzymes such as histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and methylases covalently label the amino-termini of histones, thereby creating a 'histone code' of modifications that is interpreted by the recruitment of other proteins through recognition domains. Ultimately, this network of interacting proteins is thought to control the degree of chromatin condensation so that DNA is available when it is required for genomic processes. Reviewed here are the structures of HAT and SET domains, which mediate the acetylation and methylation of histones, respectively, and bromodomains and chromodomains, which recognize the modified histones. How these structures have increased our understanding of DNA regulation is also discussed.
Bottomley
Matthew J
MJ
Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare, Via Pontina Km 30.600, 00040 Pomezia (Rome), Italy. matthew_bottomley@merck.com
D000107:Acetylation; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011487:Protein Conformation
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases