title: HP1a: a structural chromosomal protein regulating transcription.
abstract: Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1a in Drosophila) is a conserved eukaryotic chromosomal protein that is prominently associated with pericentric heterochromatin and mediates the concomitant gene silencing. Mechanistic studies implicate HP1 family proteins as 'hub proteins,' able to interact with a variety of chromosomal proteins through the chromo-shadow domain (CSD), as well as to recognize key histone modification sites [primarily histone H3 di/trimethyl Lys9 (H3K9me2/3)] through the chromodomain (CD). Consequently, HP1 has many important roles in chromatin architecture and impacts both gene expression and gene silencing, utilizing a variety of mechanisms. Clearly, HP1 function is altered by context, and potentially by post-translational modifications (PTMs). Here, we report on recent ideas as to how this versatile protein accomplishes its diverse functions.
authors.affiliation: Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Doisy Research Center, 1100 South Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Joel C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Eissenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1037, One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA. Electronic address: selgin@biology.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah C R
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Elgin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5
keywords: HP1a; chromodomain; gene expression; silencing