Histone variants and chromatin assembly in plant abiotic stress responses.
Genome organization into nucleosomes and higher-order chromatin structures has profound implications for the regulation of gene expression, DNA replication and repair. The structure of chromatin can be remodeled by several mechanisms; among others, nucleosome assembly/disassembly and replacement of canonical histones with histone variants constitute important ones. In this review, we provide a brief description on the current knowledge about histone chaperones involved in nucleosome assembly/disassembly and histone variants in Arabidopsis thaliana. We discuss recent advances in revealing crucial functions of histone chaperones, nucleosome assembly/disassembly and histone variants in plant response to abiotic stresses. It appears that chromatin structure remodeling may provide a flexible, global and stable means for the regulation of gene transcription to help plants more effectively cope with environmental stresses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Histone chaperones and chromatin assembly.
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Yan
Y
Zhu
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Aiwu
A
Dong
Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg Cédex, France.
Wen-Hui
WH
Shen
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics*; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D055864:Droughts; D056488:Histone Chaperones / Q000502:physiology; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
D056488:Histone Chaperones; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes