Histone modifications are specifically relocated during gene activation and nuclear differentiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Post-translational histone modifications (PTMs) and their specific distribution on genes play a crucial role in the control of gene expression, but the regulation of their dynamics upon gene activation and differentiation is still poorly understood. Here, we exploit the unique genome organization of ciliates to analyse PTM dynamics during gene activation in the differentiated cell and during nuclear differentiation. In the macronucleus of these cells the DNA is organized into nanochromosomes which represent independent functional units. Therefore, ciliated protozoa represent a simplistic model system to analyse the relevance of histone modifications and their localization for gene expression and differentiation.

Results

We analysed the distribution of three PTMs o

SUBMITTER: Heyse KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2787535 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature