title: Chromatin compaction in terminally differentiated avian blood cells: the role of linker histone H5 and non-histone protein MENT.
abstract: Chromatin has a tendency to shift from a relatively decondensed (active) to condensed (inactive) state during cell differentiation due to interactions of specific architectural and/or regulatory proteins with DNA. A promotion of chromatin folding in terminally differentiated avian blood cells requires the presence of either histone H5 in erythrocytes or non-histone protein, myeloid and erythroid nuclear termination stage-specific protein (MENT), in white blood cells (lymphocytes and granulocytes). These highly abundant proteins assist in folding of nucleosome arrays and self-association of chromatin fibers into compacted chromatin structures. Here, we briefly review structural aspects and molecular mode of action by which these unrelated proteins can spread condensed chromatin to form inactivated regions in the genome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Świętokrzyska 15, 25-406 Kielce, Poland. a.kowalski@ujk.kielce.pl
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pałyga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002645:Chickens; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006657:Histones; C081441:MENT protein, Gallus gallus; D004247:DNA