Histone exchange and histone modifications during transcription and aging.

TitleHistone exchange and histone modifications during transcription and aging.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsDas C, Tyler JK
JournalBiochim Biophys Acta
Volume1819
Issue3-4
Pagination332-342
Date Published2013 Mar-Apr
ISSN0006-3002
KeywordsAging, Animals, Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly, Histone Chaperones, Histones, Humans, Models, Molecular, Protein Processing, Post-Translational, Transcription, Genetic
Abstract

The organization of the eukaryotic genome into chromatin enables DNA to fit inside the nucleus while also regulating the access of proteins to the DNA to facilitate genomic functions such as transcription, replication and repair. The basic repeating unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, which includes 147 bp of DNA wrapped 1.65 times around an octamer of core histone proteins comprising two molecules each of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. Each nucleosome is a highly stable unit, being maintained by over 120 direct protein-DNA interactions and several hundred water mediated ones. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in understanding how processive enzymes such as RNA polymerases manage to pass along the coding regions of our genes that are tightly packaged into arrays of nucleosomes. Here we present the current mechanistic understanding of this process and the evidence for profound changes in chromatin dynamics during aging. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Histone chaperones and Chromatin assembly.

DOI10.1016/j.bbagrm.2011.08.001
Alternate JournalBiochim Biophys Acta
PubMed ID24459735
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