Histones are abundant nuclear proteins that are essential for the packaging of eukaryotic DNA into chromosomes. Different histone variants, in combination with their modification 'code', control regulation of gene expression in diverse cellular processes. Several enzymes that catalyze the addition and removal of multiple histone modifications have been discovered in the past decade, enabling in...

The existence of different patterns of chemical modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and ADP-ribosylation) of the histone tails led, some years ago, to the histone code hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, these modifications would provide binding sites for proteins that can change the chromatin state to either active or repressed. Interestingly, some pr...

Abstract GFI1 is a DNA-binding transcription factor that regulates hematopoiesis by repressing target genes through its association with complexes containing histone demethylases such as KDM1A (LSD1) and deacetylases (HDACs). To study the consequences of disruption complex between histone-modifying enzymes, we have used knock-in mice harboring P2A mutation in coding region renders it unable to ...

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide and therefore one diseases in which there have been major medical advances focus researchers. Drugs used cancer treatment affect rapidly proliferating normal cells as well cells. In recent years, targeted therapy has provided by identifying specific pathways Epigenetic mechanisms are therapies treatment. regulators ensure continuity process ...

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification of chromatin has profound effects on transcription regulation. By using Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) as a model, we recently demonstrated that epigenetic modification of viral chromatin by SUMO-2/3 is involved in regulating gene expression and viral reactivation. However, how this modification orchestrates transcription reprogr...

As a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) results from accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic alterations. Disruption of epigenetic regulation in CRC, particularly aberrant histone methylation mediated by histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and demethylases (HDMs), have drawn increasing interest in recent years. In this paper, we aim to review the roles of histon...

Abstract BACKGROUND Aberrant activity of the H3K27 modifiers EZH2 and BRD4 is an important oncogenic driver for atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), each potentially a possible therapeutic target treating AT/RT. Thus, targeting distinct histone modifier activities would be effective approach METHODS The effects inhibition on modification, cell proliferation, invasion were analyzed by immun...

Histone methylation is widely believed to contribute to epigenetic inheritance by persevering through DNA replication and subsequently templating methylation of daughter chromosome regions. However, a report in this issue (Petruk et al.) suggests that chromatin association of the methytransferase complexes themselves persists through replication and re-establishes histone methylation.

The nuclear pore complex is a multiprotein comprising approximately 30 different proteins called nucleoporins (Nups). Recent studies in yeast, animals, and plants have shown that the Nups bind to chromatin interact with transcription factors, chromatin-remodeling histone-modifying enzymes, structural proteins, including CCCTC-binding factor cohesin. These findings suggest provide subnuclear pla...

Methylated lysine and arginine residues in histones represent a crucial part of the histone code, and recognition of these methylated residues by protein interaction domains modulates transcription. Although some methylating enzymes appear to be histone specific, many can modify histone and non-histone substrates and an increasing number are specific for non-histone substrates. Some of the non-...