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PMID: 15475964 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Centromeric chromatin exhibits a histone modification pattern that is distinct from both euchromatin and heterochromatin.

Nature structural & molecular biology ·Vol. 11 ·No. 11 ·2004-11-00 ·Pages 1076-83

Sullivan BA, Karpen GH

Abstract

Post-translational histone modifications regulate epigenetic switching between different chromatin states. Distinct histone modifications, such as acetylation, methylation and phosphorylation, define different functional chromatin domains, and often do so in a combinatorial fashion. The centromere is a unique chromosomal locus that mediates multiple segregation functions, including kinetochore formation, spindle-mediated movements, sister cohesion and a mitotic checkpoint. Centromeric (CEN) chromatin is embedded in heterochromatin and contains blocks of histone H3 nucleosomes interspersed with blocks of CENP-A nucleosomes, the histone H3 variant that provides a structural and functional foundation for the kinetochore. Here, we demonstrate that the spectrum of histone modifications present in human and Drosophila melanogaster CEN chromatin is distinct from that of both euchromatin and flanking heterochromatin. We speculate that this distinct modification pattern contributes to the unique domain organization and three-dimensional structure of centromeric regions, and/or to the epigenetic information that determines centromere identity.

MeSH Terms
Acetylation Animals Cell Line, Tumor Centromere/ultrastructure Chromatin/chemistry,physiology DNA Methylation Drosophila melanogaster Euchromatin/chemistry Heterochromatin/chemistry Histones/chemistry,metabolism Humans Image Processing, Computer-Assisted Metaphase Methylation Microscopy, Fluorescence Mitosis Models, Biological Phosphorylation Protein Conformation Protein Structure, Tertiary
Chemicals
Chromatin Euchromatin Heterochromatin Histones
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Sullivan Beth A
Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. [email protected]
Karpen Gary H
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Article Info
Journal
Nature structural & molecular biology
Abbr.
Nat Struct Mol Biol
ISSN
1545-9993
DOI
10.1038/nsmb845
Email
[email protected]
Published
2004-11-00
Epub
2004-00-10
Pages
1076-83
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101186374
PMCID
PMC1283111
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM066272 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM066272-04 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM069514 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM66272 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/nsmb845 PMC Full Text View journal details
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