Reduced histone gene copy number disrupts Drosophila Polycomb function.

ABSTRACT: The chromatin of animal cells contains two types of histones: canonical histones that are expressed during S phase of the cell cycle to package the newly replicated genome, and variant histones with specialized functions that are expressed throughout the cell cycle and in non-proliferating cells. Determining whether and how canonical and variant histones cooperate to regulate genome function is integral to understanding how chromatin-based processes affect normal and pathological development. Here, we demonstrate that variant histone H3.3 is essential for Drosophila development only when canonical histone gene copy number is reduced, suggesting that coordination between canonical H3.2 and variant H3.3 expression is necessary to provide sufficient H3 protein for normal genome function. To i

SUBMITTER: McPherson JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10411577 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature