title: Polycomb group complexes--many combinations, many functions.
abstract: Polycomb Group (PcG) proteins are transcription regulatory proteins that control the expression of a variety of genes from early embryogenesis through birth to adulthood. PcG proteins form several complexes that are thought to collaborate to repress gene transcription. Individual PcG proteins have unique characteristics, and mutations in genes encoding different PcG proteins cause distinct phenotypes. Histone modifications have important roles in some PcG protein functions, but they are not universally required. The mechanisms of gene-specific recruitment, transcription repression, and selective derepression of genes by vertebrate PcG proteins are incompletely understood. Future studies of this enigmatic group of developmental regulators are certain to produce unanticipated discoveries.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0650, USA. kerppola@umich.edu
authors.forename: Tom K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kerppola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins