H1 histones control the epigenetic landscape by local chromatin compaction.

ABSTRACT: H1 linker histones are the most abundant chromatin-binding proteins¹. In vitro studies indicate that their association with chromatin determines nucleosome spacing and enables arrays of nucleosomes to fold into more compact chromatin structures. However, the in vivo roles of H1 are poorly understood². Here we show that the local density of H1 controls the balance of repressive and active chromatin domains by promoting genomic compaction. We generated a conditional triple-H1-knockout mouse strain and depleted H1 in haematopoietic cells. H1 depletion in T cells leads to de-repression of T cell activation genes, a process that mimics normal T cell activation. Comparison of chromatin structure in normal and H1-depleted CD8⁺ T cells reveals that H1-mediated chro

SUBMITTER: Willcockson MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8110206 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature