MAP kinase-mediated phosphoacetylation of histone H3 and inducible gene regulation

That signalling pathways, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, elicit modification of chromatin proteins such as histone H3 by phosphorylation and/or acetylation concomitant with gene activation is now well established. The picture that is emerging is one of a complex and dynamic pattern of multiple modifications at the H3 tail. Here, we review the inducible gene systems where H3 modifications have been reported and re-evaluate the controversy as to the kinase(s) that phosphorylates it as well as the proposed coupling between H3 phosphorylation and acetylation. (C) 2003 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.