Transcriptional regulation by chromatin disassembly and reassembly

Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2007 Apr;17(2):88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2007.02.001. Epub 2007 Feb 20.

Abstract

The packaging of the eukaryotic genome into chromatin severely restricts the access of the transcriptional machinery to the DNA. Recent studies reveal that histones are removed and replaced to enable or restrict, respectively, access of the transcription machinery to regulate transcription. Chromatin disassembly at promoters enables transcriptional activation, whereas promoter chromatin reassembly represses transcription. Histone loss also occurs within transcription units to enable passage of the RNA polymerase, but in this case the histones are rapidly replaced, sometimes by 'variant' histones with specific properties that might serve as a memory of transcriptional competence. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of some epigenetic modifications might well turn out to be the regulation of histone occupancy on the DNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Histones / physiology
  • Models, Biological*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology*

Substances

  • Histones