The Expanding Constellation of Histone Post-Translational Modifications in the Epigenetic Landscape

The emergence of a nucleosome-based chromatin structure accompanied the evolutionary transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. In this scenario, histones became the heart of the complex and precisely timed coordination between chromatin architecture and functions during adaptive responses to environmental influence by means of epigenetic mechanisms. Notably, such an epigenetic machinery involves an overwhelming number of post-translational modifications at multiple residues of core and linker histones. This review aims to comprehensively describe old and recent evidence in this exciting field of research. In particular, histone post-translational modification establishing/removal mechanisms, their genomic locations and implication in nucleosome dynamics and chromatin-based processes, as well as their harmonious combination and interdependence will be discussed.

Automated summary

The emergence of a nucleosome-based chromatin structure during the evolutionary transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes plays a crucial role in adaptive responses to environmental influence through epigenetic mechanisms involving histones. The overwhelming number of post-translational modifications at multiple residues of histones and their implications in nucleosome dynamics and chromatin processes are discussed in this review.