4.6 Article

Histone modifications and the chromatin scaffold for meiotic chromosome architecture

Journal

CELL CYCLE
Volume 5, Issue 18, Pages 2064-2071

Publisher

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.4161/cc.5.18.3253

Keywords

cohesin; condensin; chromosome passenger complex; synaptonemal complex; oogenesis; histone code

Categories

Funding

  1. NIGMS NIH HHS [R01 GM039341, GM39341] Funding Source: Medline

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Chromosomes are capable of remarkable structural adaptability that enables their diverse functions. Histone modifications play pivotal roles in conferring structural diversity to chromosomes by influencing the compactness of chromatin. Several multi-protein complexes bind to chromatin and affect chromosome dynamics, including cohesin, condensin, the chromosome passenger complex, and the synaptonemal complex. The roles of these complexes in promoting chromosome functions include cohesion, condensation and synapsis. It is now crucial to define the relationship between the protein complexes that affect chromosome architecture and the underlying state of the chromatin. During meiosis chromosomes undergo striking morphological changes, including alignment of homologous chromosomes, double-strand break formation and repair, and establishment of meiosis-specific chromosome structures. These dynamic chromosome arrangements are accompanied by the recruitment and expulsion of multi-protein complexes from chromatin. Meiotic chromosome dynamics ensure proper chromosome segregation and production of healthy gametes. Meiosis thus affords an excellent opportunity to determine how histone modifications impact higher order chromosome dynamics by affecting localization and function of chromosome protein complexes. A mutation in the Drosophila histone kinase, NHK-1, uncovered a critical requirement for histone modifications in meiotic chromosome architecture, underscoring the power of this approach.

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