Histone variants at the transcription start-site.

Histone variants at the transcription start-site.
Trends Genet. 2014 Apr 22;
Authors: Soboleva TA, Nekrasov M, Ryan DP, Tremethick DJ
Abstract
The function of a eukaryotic cell crucially depends on accurate gene transcription to ensure the right genes are expressed whereas unrequired genes are repressed. Therefore, arguably, one of the most important regions in the genome is the transcription start-site (TSS) of protein-coding and non-coding genes. Until recently, understanding the mechanisms that define the location of the TSS and how it is created has largely focused on the role of DNA sequence-specific transcription factors. However, within the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, transcription occurs in a highly compacted nucleosomal environment, and it is becoming clear that accessibility of the TSS is a key controlling step in transcriptional regulation. It has traditionally been thought that transcription can only proceed once the nucleosomes at the TSS have been evicted. New work suggests otherwise, however, and the focus of this review is to challenge this belief.
PMID: 24768041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Trends in Genetics : TIG - April 22, 2014 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Soboleva TA, Nekrasov M, Ryan DP, Tremethick DJ Tags: Trends Genet Source Type: research