Nucleosome remodeling and epigenetics

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2013 Sep 1;5(9):a017905. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a017905.

Abstract

Eukaryotic chromatin is kept flexible and dynamic to respond to environmental, metabolic, and developmental cues through the action of a family of so-called "nucleosome remodeling" ATPases. Consistent with their helicase ancestry, these enzymes experience conformation changes as they bind and hydrolyze ATP. At the same time they interact with DNA and histones, which alters histone-DNA interactions in target nucleosomes. Their action may lead to complete or partial disassembly of nucleosomes, the exchange of histones for variants, the assembly of nucleosomes, or the movement of histone octamers on DNA. "Remodeling" may render DNA sequences accessible to interacting proteins or, conversely, promote packing into tightly folded structures. Remodeling processes participate in every aspect of genome function. Remodeling activities are commonly integrated with other mechanisms such as histone modifications or RNA metabolism to assemble stable, epigenetic states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • DNA Methylation / physiology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mi-2 Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complex / genetics
  • Mi-2 Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complex / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Nucleosomes / physiology*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Nucleosomes
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Mi-2 Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complex