Heterochromatin revisited

Nat Rev Genet. 2007 Jan;8(1):35-46. doi: 10.1038/nrg2008.

Abstract

The formation of heterochromatin, which requires methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 and the subsequent recruitment of chromodomain proteins such as heterochromatin protein HP1, serves as a model for the role of histone modifications and chromatin assembly in epigenetic control of the genome. Recent studies in Schizosaccharomyces pombe indicate that heterochromatin serves as a dynamic platform to recruit and spread a myriad of regulatory proteins across extended domains to control various chromosomal processes, including transcription, chromosome segregation and long-range chromatin interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
  • Ciliophora / genetics
  • Ciliophora / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Heterochromatin / genetics*
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism*
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mammals / genetics
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • Models, Genetic
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Heterochromatin
  • Histones
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Chromobox Protein Homolog 5