Combinatorial assembly and function of chromatin regulatory complexes

The introduction of new methods for genome-wide analyses of the chromatin state, together with the power of refined techniques for mass spectrometry and biochemistry, has provided an unprecedented view on the complexity of eukaryotic gene regulation. Chromatin structure, the state of histone modifications and DNA methylation are highly dynamic and subject to various levels of regulation. In addition, the subunit compositions of the protein complexes that bring about these changes appear to be assembled in a combinatorial manner that is specific for the cell type and developmental stage, providing increased specificity to these complexes. Here we discuss recent evidence regarding the combinatorial control of chromatin regulatory complexes.