Global modulation of chromatin dynamics mediated by dephosphorylation of linker histone H1 is necessary for erythroid differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Differentiation of metazoan cells involves dramatic changes in gene expression patterns and proliferative capacity driven primarily by epigenetic mechanisms. Here we used in vivo photobleaching techniques and biochemical assays to investigate the contribution of alterations in chromatin dynamics to the differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, a model system for erythroid development. As MEL cells differentiate the binding affinity of all linker histone variants increases, indicative of an overall decrease in chromatin flexibility. Changes in H1(0) binding properties depend on phosphorylation at one or more of three cyclin-dependent kinase sites. The presence of constructs mimicking constitutively phosphorylated H1 results in a significant inhibition in the acquisition of comm

SUBMITTER: Yellajoshyula D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1656952 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature