MacroH2A1 histone variants are depleted on active genes but concentrated on the inactive X chromosome.

ABSTRACT: Using a novel thiol affinity chromatography approach to purify macroH2A1-containing chromatin fragments, we examined the distribution of macroH2A1 histone variants in mouse liver chromatin. We found that macroH2A1 was depleted on the transcribed regions of active genes. This depletion was observed on all of the 20 active genes that we probed, with only one site showing a small amount of enrichment. In contrast, macroH2A1 was concentrated on the inactive X chromosome, consistent with our previous immunofluorescence studies. This preferential localization was seen on genes that are active in liver, genes that are inactive in liver, and intergenic regions but was absent from four regions that escape X inactivation. These results support the hypothesis that macroH2As function as transcriptiona

SUBMITTER: Changolkar LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1489112 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature