The histone minority report: the variant shall not be silenced

Cell. 2003 Mar 7;112(5):591-3. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00152-1.

Abstract

In this issue of Cell, Meneghini et al. demonstrate that replacement of canonical histone H2A with the histone variant H2A.Z within euchromatin prevents silent chromatin proteins from migrating into regions of the chromosome that normally are transcriptionally active. Thus, this highly conserved histone variant is critical for defining chromatin domains.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • Chromatin / genetics*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Cells / cytology
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Gene Silencing / physiology*
  • Histones / genetics*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • histone H2A.F-Z