Histone Variants and Nucleosome Occupancy
Sevinc Ercan and Michael J. Carrozza
from: Epigenetics (Edited by: Jörg Tost). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2008)
Abstract
The modification of chromatin structure is proving to be an important component of many processes involving DNA. The three recognized mechanisms for modifying chromatin are ATP dependent chromatin remodeling, covalent modification of histones and incorporation of histone sequence variants. This chapter focuses on the role of histone variants in several DNA metabolic processes that include transcription, DNA replication and DNA repair. Histone variants discussed in this chapter include H3.1, H3.2, H3.3, CenH3s, H2A.Z, gammaH2A.X, MacroH2A, H2A.Bbd, H1 variants and testis specific variants. Table 1 summarizes functions associated with these variants. This chapter also deals with the role of the above-mentioned chromatin-modifying mechanisms and DNA sequences in defining the range of nucleosome occupancy levels found throughout the eukaryotic genome read more ...
