Genes 2015, 6(3), 751-776; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes6030751
Chromatin Dynamics in Vivo: A Game of Musical Chairs
1
Chromatin Structure and Epigenetics Mechanisms Unit, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 41 Library Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
2
Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Jessica Tyler
Received: 5 June 2015 / Revised: 17 July 2015 / Accepted: 28 July 2015 / Published: 7 August 2015
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chromatin Dynamics)
Abstract
Histones are a major component of chromatin, the nucleoprotein complex fundamental to regulating transcription, facilitating cell division, and maintaining genome integrity in almost all eukaryotes. In addition to canonical, replication-dependent histones, replication-independent histone variants exist in most eukaryotes. In recent years, steady progress has been made in understanding how histone variants assemble, their involvement in development, mitosis, transcription, and genome repair. In this review, we will focus on the localization of the major histone variants H3.3, CENP-A, H2A.Z, and macroH2A, as well as how these variants have evolved, their structural differences, and their functional significance in vivo. View Full-Text
Figure 1
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Melters, D.P.; Nye, J.; Zhao, H.; Dalal, Y. Chromatin Dynamics in Vivo: A Game of Musical Chairs. Genes 2015, 6, 751-776.