title: Patterning chromatin: form and function for H2A.Z variant nucleosomes.
abstract: Although many histone variants are specific to higher eukaryotes, the H2A variant H2A.Z has been conserved during eukaryotic evolution. Genetic studies have demonstrated roles for H2A.Z in antagonizing gene-silencing, chromosome stability and gene activation. Biochemical work has identified a conserved chromatin-remodeling complex responsible for H2A.Z deposition. Recent studies have shown that two H2A.Z nucleosomes flank a nucleosome-free region containing the transcription initiation site in promoters of both active and inactive genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This chromatin pattern is generated through the action of a DNA deposition signal and a specific pattern of histone tail acetylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94143-2240, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Raisner
authors.forename: Hiten D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Madhani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes