title: Chromatin higher-order structures and gene regulation.
abstract: Genomic DNA in the eukaryotic nucleus is hierarchically packaged by histones into chromatin to fit inside the nucleus. The dynamics of higher-order chromatin compaction play a crucial role in transcription and other biological processes inherent to DNA. Many factors, including histone variants, histone modifications, DNA methylation, and the binding of non-histone architectural proteins regulate the structure of chromatin. Although the structure of nucleosomes, the fundamental repeating unit of chromatin, is clear, there is still much discussion on the higher-order levels of chromatin structure. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in elucidating the structure of the 30-nm chromatin fiber. We also discuss the structural plasticity/dynamics and epigenetic inheritance of higher-order chromatin and the roles of chromatin higher-order organization in eukaryotic gene regulation.
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reinberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D009707:Nucleosomes