Talk is cheap--cross-talk in establishment, maintenance, and readout of chromatin modifications.
The functionality of a cell's genome is controlled epigenetically on the level of chromatin. Multiple post-translational modifications of histone proteins together with DNA methylation play a key role in directing distinct functional states of chromatin. As it emerges, many epigenetic marks on the chromatin platform do not act independently, but cross-talk with each other. In this issue of Genes & Development, Adhvaryu and Selker (3391-3396) provide novel insights into an intricate regulatory network involving histone phosphorylation, histone methylation, and DNA methylation.
Fischle
Wolfgang
W
Laboratory of Chromatin Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany. wfischl@gwdg.de
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D010766:Phosphorylation
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones